OKC crushes Lakers in LA and is one step away from the Western semi-finals

Ajay Mitchell delivered the best performance of his playoff career and brought the Oklahoma City Thunder even closer to a new Western Conference Finals. The team led by Mark Daigneault crushed the Los Angeles Lakers 131-108 in the third game of the series and now leads the series with a convincing 3-0.

The Belgian point guard was the main star of the night with 24 points and 10 assists, both personal postseason records. Mitchell continues to shine in these playoffs and once again proved crucial for a Thunder team that remains undefeated, now with seven consecutive wins in this final phase.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points and nine assists for Oklahoma City, which also maintains a perfect 7-0 record this season against LeBron James' team. The reigning champions are displaying absolute dominance in the series, with a total margin of 59 points in the three victories against a Lakers side heavily affected by injuries.

The third game followed a script similar to the second. The Lakers resisted during the first half and even reached halftime with a slight lead thanks to Rui Hachimura's 16 points, but the champions imposed their rhythm once again after the break.

Oklahoma City dominated the third quarter with a 33-20 run and definitively broke the game with their usual offensive efficiency. Chet Holmgren contributed 18 points and nine rebounds, while the visiting team was never threatened again in the final stretch.

The Thunder's numbers in these playoffs are starting to become historic. After seven games, Oklahoma City presents a +128 point differential, the highest ever recorded by a defending champion at this stage of the postseason in NBA history.

On the other hand, the Lakers continue to feel the absence of Luka Doncic. The Slovenian has missed his fourteenth consecutive game since suffering a muscle injury on April 2, precisely against Oklahoma City. According to reports surrounding the Los Angeles team, his return does not seem imminent.

LeBron James finished with 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, while Austin Reaves added 17 points and nine assists. However, both struggled with their shooting and combined for a poor 12 for 32 from the field.

The 21 points from Hachimura and 18 from Luke Kennard were also not enough to keep the Lakers in the fight against a much superior rival. The Los Angeles team has lost five of their last six games since the halfway point of the first round against Houston and now finds themselves on the brink of elimination.

Ajay Mitchell, instrumental in the victory

Meanwhile, Ajay Mitchell continues to establish himself as one of the standout performers of these playoffs. The Belgian shooting guard has now scored at least 14 points in six consecutive games and shot an impressive 10 for 17 from the field.

Not even Gilgeous-Alexander's slow start, missing nine of his first eleven attempts due to the intense defense from the Lakers, could deter a Thunder team that keeps functioning like a well-oiled machine.

Furthermore, Oklahoma City continues to compete without Jalen Williams, the team's third leading scorer, who has now missed his fifth consecutive game due to a hamstring injury.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, OKC machaca a los Lakers en LA y está a un paso de las semis del Oeste