The Oklahoma City Thunder outlasted the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal on Thursday.
Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 22 points each, Ajay Mitchell had 20, and Jared McCain added 18 points off the bench.
On the other hand, the Lakers were again without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They were also missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie finger on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 31 points, and LeBron James added 23 points.
The Lakers were up 63-61 early in the third quarter when Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul.
Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander’s follow through. Thunder’s Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.
With Gilgeous-Alexander seated with the Lakers up 65-61, Oklahoma City rallied and took control.
Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams on fastbreak, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled to put the Thunder up 85-74.
Oklahoma City outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.
Los Angeles cut Oklahoma City’s lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.
The Lakers will host Game 3 on Saturday.
