On May 12, Beijing time, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series, with the Thunder holding a commanding 3-0 lead. The talent gap was evident throughout the first three games, as each contest ended with a margin of at least 18 points and Oklahoma City outscored the Lakers by nearly 20 points per game on average. For the Thunder, the goal was clear: close out the series with a sweep. For the Lakers, Luka Doncic was sidelined once again, leaving LeBron James as the primary playmaker and offensive anchor. The Thunder’s depth proved decisive, even with Jalen Williams injured. Rookie Ajay Mitchell stepped up, averaging nearly 18 points and 5 assists per game in the series, while Chet Holmgren dominated the paint, leaving the Lakers with few answers on the inside. Los Angeles simply lacked the offensive firepower to keep pace, and a single tactical adjustment was unlikely to bridge the roster disparity.
The Lakers had been on the brink for three days, with each game a must-win. By Game 4, mental resilience mattered more than X’s and O’s. In the first two games, Los Angeles held leads at halftime, only to be overwhelmed by the Thunder’s fast-paced attack in the second half—a clear reflection of the gap in stamina and rotation depth. The toll on 41-year-old LeBron James was visible, Austin Reaves remained cold from the field throughout the series, and the team’s regular-season three-point shooting collapsed against Oklahoma City’s rotating defense. ESPN gave the Lakers a 31.2% chance to win Game 4, a prediction that aligned with the general assessment of the matchup. No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit. For Los Angeles, Game 4 was about salvaging pride and avoiding a sweep.
Starting lineups: Lakers—LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton; Thunder—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ajay Mitchell, Luguentz Dort, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein. The game began with Ayton scoring a putback to open the scoring. Dort answered with a transition three, Mitchell hit a tough fadeaway, Hachimura responded with a post-up jumper, and James drew a foul, making both free throws. Gilgeous-Alexander sank a step-back jumper, and Mitchell converted a reverse layup. Reaves knocked down a deep three to end the first quarter with the Lakers leading 26-21.
In the second quarter, Alex Caruso hit a corner three to start Thunder scoring. Mitchell stripped the ball and finished a fast-break layup, then drained a mid-range jumper. Jared McCain connected from deep, and Gilgeous-Alexander attacked the rim, earning two free throws. The Lakers’ early momentum dissipated quickly. They went scoreless for more than five minutes, allowing the Thunder to take control behind Gilgeous-Alexander and Hartenstein’s inside-out game. At halftime, Oklahoma City led 49-45.
The third quarter opened with Gilgeous-Alexander’s signature mid-range jumper. Mitchell drove aggressively for another layup. Hachimura answered with a three, Ayton scored an easy putback, and Cason Wallace hit back-to-back threes. The Lakers appeared on the verge of collapse as the Thunder stretched the lead to double digits. But the game swung again: Luke Kennard and Reaves hit consecutive threes, Reaves drew fouls driving to the rim, and Jaxson Hayes sparked a comeback with emphatic dunks. By the end of the third, the Lakers led 84-80.
The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth shootout. Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell combined to wrestle back control, but Hachimura erupted with two difficult threes to keep the Lakers alive. Smart converted an and-one to give Los Angeles a one-point lead. With 30 seconds remaining, Holmgren threw down a monster dunk. On the next possession, James missed a driving floater, and Reaves misfired on a potential game-tying three, sealing the Lakers’ fate. Final score: Thunder 115, Lakers 110. Oklahoma City swept the series 4-0.
Leading scorers: For the Lakers—Austin Reaves 27 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists; LeBron James 24 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists; Rui Hachimura 25 points, 5 rebounds; Jaxson Hayes 18 points, 5 rebounds. For the Thunder—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 35 points, 8 assists; Ajay Mitchell 28 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists; Chet Holmgren 16 points, 9 rebounds; Jared McCain 13 points.