Before the Lakers wrapped up their first-round playoff series against the Rockets, Coach JJ Redick talked about the challenges of putting together a complete game. “We have to kill them,” he remarked. “It’s hard to kill people. Your survival instinct says, ‘I want to stay alive.'” This intense mindset is necessary, he added.
In their Game 4 showdown against the Thunder at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers’ urgency was palpable. With their season hanging by a thread, they really needed to step up.
Yet, the Thunder dashed those hopes. The Lakers fell to the Thunder in Game 4, 115-110, marking the end of their season.
Late-game points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell inflicted significant damage on the Lakers.
Despite strong performances from the whole team in the latter half of the game, the Lakers couldn’t rebound from the numerous critical moments.
They went scoreless in the last 30 seconds. The Thunder capitalized with a dunk from Chet Holmgren and free throws from Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell to seal their victory.
Austin Reeves (27 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), Rui Hachimura (25 points), LeBron James (24 points, 12 rebounds), and Jackson Hayes (18 points, 5 rebounds) all shone in those final minutes.
However, the Thunder’s contributions were simply more significant overall for the series.
Gilgeous-Alexander led his team with 35 points and eight assists, while Mitchell added 28 points and Holmgren pitched in with 16 points and nine rebounds.
What It Means
The Lakers’ season concluded with a four-game sweep at the hands of the Thunder, marking the fourth time in LeBron James’ career that he has faced such a playoff exit.
The Thunder now advance to face either the Spurs or the Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals.
Turning Point
A pivotal moment came when Jared McCain nailed a 3-pointer, narrowing the Lakers’ lead to three points, which shifted the momentum away from the Lakers. They had previously outscored the Thunder 39-31 in the third quarter.
MVP: Gilgeous-Alexander
The reigning MVP really stepped up in this finale, showcasing his best performance of the series.
Gilgeous-Alexander found success with 11 of 22 shots made and converted 12 of 15 free throw attempts. In the fourth quarter alone, he and Mitchell netted 19 of the Thunder’s 35 points.
Game Status: 19
Ball handling has been a recurring focus throughout the series, and the Lakers struggled once again, coughing up the ball 19 times.
The Thunder capitalized, scoring 22 points off these turnovers.
To the Next
It’s time for the Lakers’ exit interviews.
