Thunder beat Lakers 125-107 in Game 2, take 2-0 series lead behind Chet Holmgren’s 22 points [VIDEO]
Oklahoma City forced 20 turnovers and got 48 points from its bench to overcome a one-point halftime deficit.
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 7, 2026, at Paycom Center. The defending champions and top seed now lead the series 2-0. Game 1 was a 108-90 Thunder victory on May 5. The Lakers played without Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) and Jarred Vanderbilt (dislocated right finger). The Thunder were without Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) and started Ajay Mitchell in his place.
Chet Holmgren scored 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding 9 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also scored 22 points in 28 minutes. Mitchell added 20 points and 6 assists. The Thunder bench contributed 48 points, led by Jared McCain’s 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 31 points. LeBron James added 23 points and 6 assists.
Game 3 is Saturday in Los Angeles.
Thunder Wipe Out Halftime Deficit With Dominant Third Quarter
The Lakers led 58-57 at halftime after outscoring Oklahoma City 35-30 in the second quarter. Austin Reaves and LeBron James kept Los Angeles in contention, combining for 34 first-half points. The Thunder shot 50 percent from the field but committed 8 turnovers that allowed the Lakers to stay close.
The third quarter belonged to Oklahoma City. The Thunder outscored the Lakers 36-22, flipping a one-point deficit into a 93-80 lead. Chet Holmgren was everywhere: blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, and knocking down three-pointers. The Thunder’s defense forced 7 turnovers in the period alone, turning them into fast-break points.
A flagrant-1 foul called on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against Austin Reaves could have swung momentum. Instead, the Thunder responded with a 32-15 run that buried the Lakers. Alex Caruso received a technical foul during the sequence, but Oklahoma City never lost focus. By the time the quarter ended, the game was effectively over.
Holmgren and SGA Lead Balanced Attack
Chet Holmgren played 32 minutes and finished with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks. He shot 3-of-5 from three-point range and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line. His ability to protect the rim and stretch the floor made him a matchup problem for a Lakers frontcourt missing Jarred Vanderbilt.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting in just 28 minutes. He added 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. The flagrant foul he committed in the third quarter was his only blemish. Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of Jalen Williams, provided 20 points and 6 assists in 30 minutes.
Jared McCain came off the bench and scored 18 points in approximately 18 minutes, making 4-of-5 from three-point range. Cason Wallace added 12 points. Isaiah Hartenstein nearly had a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. The Thunder had three players score 20 or more points and five score in double figures.
Turnover Problems Prove Costly for the Lake Show
Los Angeles committed 20 turnovers, leading directly to 26 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City recorded 12 steals and 5 blocks while holding the Lakers to 0 blocks. The Thunder also held a 14-4 edge in fast-break points and a 48-20 advantage in bench scoring.
Austin Reaves played 38 minutes and scored a game-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting. He added 6 assists but committed 5 turnovers and 5 fouls. LeBron James recorded 23 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals, but his 3 turnovers and -9 plus-minus reflected the team’s struggles.
Rui Hachimura scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, making 4-of-7 from three. Marcus Smart added 14 points but shot 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. Deandre Ayton was held to 3 points on 1-of-7 shooting, grabbing 10 rebounds but offering little else. Three Lakers players fouled out or finished with 5 fouls.
Lakers Meet With Officials After Game
After the final buzzer, members of the Lakers organization held a meeting with game officials. Coach JJ Redick and Austin Reaves both addressed officiating in post-game comments, with specific references to calls involving LeBron James and the physical play throughout the series. The Lakers have lost the first two games of the series by an average of 18 points.
The flagrant foul on Gilgeous-Alexander was reviewed and upheld. Alex Caruso received a technical foul during the same sequence. The Lakers believed they deserved more calls. The Thunder believed they were playing defense. The officials met with both explanations. The scoreboard did not change.
The series now shifts to Los Angeles. The Lakers have two games at home to change the narrative. The Thunder have two chances to close it out. Game 3 is Saturday. The margin for error is gone for the home team.
Bench Production Decides Game 2
The Thunder bench outscored the Lakers bench 48-20. That margin alone was larger than the final difference of 18 points. Jared McCain’s 18 points were more than any Lakers reserve. Cason Wallace added 12. Isaiah Joe, Jaylin Williams, and Alex Caruso all contributed.
The Lakers’ bench, by contrast, offered little. Luke Kennard scored 10 points. Jaxson Hayes added 6. Bronny James played limited minutes and did not score. The absences of Dončić and Vanderbilt forced the Lakers to dig deeper into their rotation, and the results were not good enough.
Oklahoma City’s depth has been a strength all season. In Game 2, with Jalen Williams sidelined, the Thunder needed their role players to step up. They did. Mitchell started and scored 20. McCain erupted off the bench. The rotation was seamless. The Lakers had no answer.
Series Heads to Los Angeles With Thunder in Control
Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers must win to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole. No team in NBA history has come back from a 0-3 deficit. The math is simple. The task is not.
Luka Dončić could return for Game 3. He has been sidelined with a left hamstring strain since Game 6 of the first round. The Lakers have not said whether he will play. Jarred Vanderbilt is out indefinitely. The Thunder are expected to remain without Jalen Williams, but his absence did not hurt them in Game 2.
The Thunder have won seven straight playoff games dating back to last season’s championship run. They have not lost since Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The Lakers are running out of time. Game 3 is tomorrow night. The pressure is on the home team. The Thunder are playing with house money.
Looking Ahead
The Thunder have done what champions do. They held serve at home. As a result, they hold a 2-0 lead. Now the series moves to Los Angeles, where the Lakers are supposed to be different. Luka Dončić has not played a minute in this series. He might play Friday. The Lakers need more than hope. They need a win.
Meanwhile, OKC is undefeated so far in this year’s playoffs. In the first round, they swept the Phoenix Suns. Now, they are two wins away from sweeping the Lakers. The Lakers are not dead, but they are running out of time.
Game 3 is the pivot. Win, and the series becomes a series. Lose, and it becomes a formality.
The Thunder are playing like they know this. The Lakers are playing like they need to learn it.
Saturday will tell the story.