In Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals, the Oklahoma City Thunder visited the Los Angeles Lakers with a commanding 3-0 series lead, having outscored the Lakers by 59 points in the first three games. Historically, teams trailing 0-3 in the NBA playoffs have a 0-163 record, and the Thunder, as defending champions, were even more formidable than the Knicks, who had just swept the 76ers. Despite the Lakers’ desperate efforts, they fell 115-110 in a hard-fought battle, avoiding a blowout but still unable to avoid elimination.
The game was tightly contested from the start, with the Lakers leading by five after the first quarter. In the second, the Lakers’ offense stalled, and the Thunder responded with a 17-0 run to take a double-digit lead. LeBron James led a comeback, but Oklahoma City held a four-point edge at halftime—their first lead at the break in the series. The Lakers roared back in the third, erupting for 39 points to reclaim the lead. The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth affair, with Donovan Mitchell, McCain, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring crucial baskets for the Thunder, while Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart hit clutch plays for the Lakers. However, James missed a key runner, and Austin Reaves missed a game-tying three, sealing the loss.
The Lakers fought with their backs against the wall. Coach JJ Redick maximized minutes for James, Reaves, Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes, aiming to outlast the Thunder in a grind. The third quarter saw the Lakers play their best basketball of the postseason, earning respect with a resilient effort. Yet, the Thunder’s depth and defensive tenacity proved overwhelming. They forced 12 steals (to the Lakers’ three) and committed only 11 turnovers compared to the Lakers’ 19, scoring 22 points off turnovers. In crunch time, the Thunder’s stars outshone the Lakers: SGA was relentless, while James struggled to finish.
James, at 41, played 41 minutes, scoring 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing three assists, but he had four turnovers and a team-worst minus-17 plus-minus. This was his 147th career playoff double-double, passing Wilt Chamberlain for third all-time. It also marked his fourth career sweep; notably, each of the previous three teams that swept him (2007 Spurs, 2018 Warriors, 2023 Nuggets) went on to win the championship. For the series, James averaged 23.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists—still impressive for a player his age, but the Lakers faced the rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
SGA played 39 minutes, scoring 35 points on 12-of-22 shooting, including 12-of-15 from the foul line, along with eight assists and a steal. It was his 26th career 30-point playoff game, tying Russell Westbrook for second in Thunder history. Despite constant double-teams, SGA averaged 24.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in the series. At 27, he has ushered in a new era, sweeping the 41-year-old legend. The “LeBron sweep curse” may now work in SGA’s favor. This could be James’ final dance with the Lakers, but being swept by a championship-caliber team is no disgrace.