The Los Angeles Lakers came home desperate, down 2-0 and searching for any sign they could solve the Oklahoma City Thunder. For one half, they had it. Then the third quarter happened — and it happened again. Oklahoma City dismantled the Lakers 131-108 Saturday night at a sold-out Crypto.com Arena, pushing the defending champions to a 3-0 series lead in the Western Conference Semifinals. No team in NBA playoff history has ever come back from a 3-0
Tag: Western Conference
Oklahoma City Buries Los Angeles, Takes 2-0 Series Lead
The Los Angeles Lakers showed enough in the first half to believe, but the third quarter told the real story. Oklahoma City went on a 29-11 run to erase a halftime deficit and never looked back, pulling away for a 125-107 win to take a 2-0 series lead. The Lakers head home facing elimination pressure with Game 3 on Saturday.
Holmgren Takes Over, OKC Depth Overwhelms Lakers in Game 1
On a night when the Lakers needed more than one man, one man was all they had. LeBron gave them 27 points and everything he had. Holmgren gave the Thunder 24 and a performance that broke the game open in the second quarter. Reaves shot 3-of-16. Vanderbilt left with a gruesome hand injury. OKC’s bench just kept coming and there was nothing LA could do about it.
Lakers vs. Thunder: Never Count Out the Purple and Gold
Nobody gave them a chance against Houston either. The Lakers are walking into Oklahoma City without their star, without the respect of the national media, and without a single person outside of Los Angeles picking them to win. That is exactly the way they like it.
No Mercy in Houston. The Lakers Close the Door On the Rockets
No mercy in Houston. The Lakers buried the Rockets with a dominant second quarter and never let up, with LeBron James orchestrating a masterclass performance and Rui Hachimura providing the knockout blow from deep. Los Angeles advances. Oklahoma City is on deck.
Houston Staves Off Elimination Again, Knocks Lakers to a 3-2 Series
Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason led a second-half surge as the Rockets outlasted Los Angeles 99-93 in Game 5, sending the first-round series back to Houston.
Houston Stops the Sweep and Stays Alive to Force a Game 5 on Wednesday
The Houston Rockets blow out Lakers 115-96 to force Game 5, powered by 24 LA turnovers and an Ayton ejection.
Lakers Survive OT Thriller in Houston, Take 3-0 Series Lead
On a night when everything was stacked against them, playing on the road, shorthanded, and watching a 15-point halftime lead nearly disappear, they still found a way. That is what good teams do
Lakers Hold Off Durant, Rockets to Take 2-0 Series Lead
LeBron James anchors a complete team effort as the Lakers take a 2-0 series lead over Houston
Kennard Delivers, LeBron Orchestrates: Lakers Take Game 1 Over Rockets, 107-98
Luke Kennard erupted for a playoff career-high 27 points, LeBron James ran the show with 13 assists, and Deandre Ayton delivered a double-double when the Lakers needed him most.