Oklahoma City Thunder Sweep Lakers to Reach Western Conference Finals
The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 in Game 4, advancing to the Western Conference finals with an undefeated 8-0 playoff record. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder in a dramatic victory that saw Chet Holmgren's late dunk seal the win over a tenacious Lakers squad, whose season ended despite strong efforts from Austin Reaves and LeBron James.
Oklahoma City Thunder completed a dominant playoff sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers with a tense 115-110 Game 4 victory, advancing to the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder have now won eight straight postseason games, becoming just the fourth defending NBA champion to achieve that feat while continuing an impressive run through the playoffs.
Unlike the earlier games in the series, Game 4 remained close until the final moments. The Lakers briefly grabbed a late lead after a fourth-quarter rally, but Oklahoma City responded quickly with a crucial late dunk from Chet Holmgren before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sealed the win from the free-throw line. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points and eight assists, while Ajay Mitchell added 28 points in a major supporting performance.
For the Lakers, Austin Reaves scored 27 points, and LeBron James recorded 24 points and 14 rebounds in what could potentially be his final NBA playoff appearance. Despite battling injuries and expectations throughout the season, the Lakers were unable to stop Oklahoma City, which outscored them by 181 points across eight meetings this season. The Thunder will now face the winner of the semifinal series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs.