Oklahoma City eliminates Los Angeles Lakers

Oklahoma City closed the series in four games, not on Friday, but on Monday, May 11. The NBA’s official playoff page lists the Thunder as 4-0 winners over the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals, with a 115-110 victory in Game 4 finishing the sweep. Basketball-Reference’s playoff series page also lists Oklahoma City as the winner of the matchup. The result ended the Lakers’ postseason and sent the Thunder back to the Western Conference finals, where San Antonio is next. ### When did Oklahoma City actually eliminate the Lakers? The NBA’s playoff bracket shows the Thunder won Game 4 on May 11 and took the series 4-0. The league schedule page, updated May 15, lists the four results in order: 108-90 in Game 1, 125-107 in Game 2, 131-108 in Game 3 and 115-110 in Game 4. Basketball-Reference’s series page matches that outcome, listing Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder among the 2026 Western Conference semifinals and identifying the matchup as completed. ### How one-sided was the series? Oklahoma City averaged 119.8 points per game in the series, while Los Angeles averaged 103.8, according to the NBA’s series summary page. (nba.com) The same page lists the Thunder with 38.3 rebounds and 26.0 assists per game, compared with 36.3 rebounds and 24.8 assists for the Lakers. The four game scores show the pattern clearly. Oklahoma City won the opener by 18 points, took Game 2 by 18, won Game 3 by 23 and survived a five-point game in the closeout. (basketball-reference.com) ### Which players led the matchup? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 24.5 points and 6.3 assists per game in the series, the NBA’s matchup page shows. LeBron James led the Lakers with 23.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. (nba.com) Chet Holmgren set the tone in the opener on May 5. ESPN’s game page for Game 1 says Holmgren finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds in Oklahoma City’s 108-90 win, while James scored 27 for Los Angeles. (nba.com) The NBA’s series page says Ajay Mitchell scored a playoff career-high 28 points in the closeout game, and it highlights Gilgeous-Alexander’s 35 points in the clincher. That gave Oklahoma City enough offense to finish the sweep despite the Lakers’ late push in Game 4. (nba.com) ### Why does the date matter here? Friday, May 15, was the date the NBA updated its broader playoff schedule page, not the date the Thunder eliminated the Lakers. (espn.com) The elimination itself had already happened four days earlier, on Monday, May 11, when Oklahoma City won Game 4. Basketball-Reference’s page being available or updated on Friday does not change the game result date. The series outcome is tied to the completed Game 4 on May 11. (nba.com) ### Who does Oklahoma City play next? The NBA schedule lists Oklahoma City against the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals. Game 1 is set for Monday, May 18, in Oklahoma City at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock. (nba.com) Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, also in Oklahoma City, before the series shifts to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4 on May 22 and May 24. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on June 3, according to the same league schedule page. (nba.com)