Oklahoma City stays unbeaten with victory over Lakers

Thunder bench dominates

However, one of the biggest differences came from Oklahoma City’s bench production. The Thunder reserves overwhelmed Los Angeles’ second unit 48-18, providing critical energy and scoring depth that the Lakers could not match. Rookie Jared McCain sparked the bench with 18 points, while Cason Wallace added 12 points and strong perimeter defense.

Despite the final score, the game highlighted just how deep Oklahoma City has become. The Thunder finished with an 18-point victory, yet they were only plus-five with Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor. That statistic reflects the team’s ability to dominate even when their superstar is resting, a major advantage during a long playoff run.

For Los Angeles, Austin Reaves led the way with 31 points, continuing his strong postseason play. LeBron James added 23 points, but the Lakers struggled defensively and failed to contain Oklahoma City’s balanced attack.

Now facing a 2-0 deficit, the Lakers return home needing a strong response to avoid falling deeper behind against a Thunder team that appears to be gaining momentum with every game.