Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander
each score 22 as Thunder take 2-0 lead over Lakers in West semis
[May 08, 2026]
By CLIFF BRUNT
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way
he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the
way they normally do.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points
during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals
against the Los Angeles Lakers, he’s averaging 19 points and taking
only 14 shots per game.
Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18
points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points,
and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on
Thursday night.
Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is
averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.
“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of
us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of
competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every
time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”
Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven
series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging
10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.
Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers,
barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15
points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.
“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder
coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He
makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes
defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was
huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”
The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is
out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were
missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who
dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of
Game 1. The Lakers also had three players finish with five fouls,
limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.
Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game
1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James,
coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to
the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron
James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA
basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City.
(AP Photo/Nate Billings)
With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third
quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called
for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1
for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso
was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted
out.
Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the
Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break,
Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and
was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.
The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was
out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.
“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together
stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are
going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win
basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no
matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And
they just did it again tonight.”
The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter
before the Thunder pulled away again.
Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.
“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of
basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you
respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to
respond. And we did so tonight.”
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