Lakers one win away from elimination after Thunder triumph in 2026 playoffs

The Los Angeles Lakers face a historic 3-0 deficit against Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference playoffs after a decisive 131-108 loss.

Thunder take control of series The Oklahoma City Thunder took a commanding lead in their playoff series with a commanding 131-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. With this win, the Thunder moved just one victory away from returning to the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers now confront an unprecedented challenge: no NBA team has ever overcome a 3-0 playoff deficit in league history. ## Thunder's standout performers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 23 points and nine assists, though teammate Ajay Mitchell delivered a more efficient performance. Mitchell contributed 24 points and 10 assists to the victory. The Lakers struggled to contain Oklahoma City despite 19 points from 41-year-old LeBron James, who played without the injured Luka Doncic. ## Thunder remain title favorites The Thunder enter the playoffs as defending NBA champions and appear poised to repeat their success. Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his highest scoring output of the series despite an early shooting slump, missing nine of his first 11 attempts. His playoff scoring average has dipped below his regular season mark of 31.1 points per game. ## Gilgeous-Alexander on playoff form Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on his inconsistent performances while emphasizing team success. 'Obviously, I haven’t been my best in performances, but I think I’ve been able to help the team win and that’s most important,' he said. 'As long as we win. If the rest of the playoff run or the rest of my career look like what it looked like the past few games, I’d be OK with it because we won games.' ## Cavaliers close gap in East Donovan Mitchell powered the Cleveland Cavaliers to a crucial 116-109 win over the Detroit Pistons. His 35-point performance was instrumental in cutting Detroit’s series lead to 2-1. Cleveland established a 16-point halftime advantage before Detroit mounted a late surge led by Cade Cunningham’s 27-point triple-double, which included 10 rebounds and 10 assists. ## Mitchell's clutch finish Mitchell sealed the victory with late free throws despite Detroit’s late rally. The Cavaliers’ win at Rocket Arena kept their playoff hopes alive as they pushed closer to advancing. Cunningham’s all-around performance nearly sparked a comeback, but Cleveland held firm to secure the series advantage. ## Knicks and Spurs advance The New York Knicks moved within one victory of advancing after a 108-94 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs took a 2-1 lead in their series with a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. These results set the stage for potential upsets in both conferences.