Lakers vs. Thunder Playoff Game 3 Game Day 2026-05-09

Oklahoma City Thunder

64-18 • 30-10 road

at

Los Angeles Lakers

53-29 • 28-13 home

· 5:30 PM PT · TV: ABC

Spread: OKC -9.5 ·O/U: 210.5

Thunder

119.0 PPG

Lakers

116.3 PPG

Team Leaders

Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31.1 PPG

Chet Holmgren 8.9 RPG

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 6.6 APG

Lakers

Austin Reaves 23.3 PPG

Deandre Ayton 8.0 RPG

LeBron James 7.2 APG

Key Matchup

LeBron James (20.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG) vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG)

Injury Report

Thunder

Out: Jalen Williams

Out: Thomas Sorber

Lakers

Out: Luka Doncic

Season Series: OKC wins 4-0

West Semifinals - Game 3. Series: OKC leads series 2-0. The Lakers (28-13 at home) host the Thunder, who are 30-10 on the road. OKC is favored by 9.5 points.

The Lakers dropped the last one 107-125 to the Thunder. How do they respond in game 3? What are your predictions for game 3? Which Laker need step up this game?

It's an energy and speed problem.

The Lakers cannot keep pace in the second half.

I state again that were I JJ, I would exploit the benches youth to preserve the energy for the second half. Use them in 3-5 minutes stints.

JJ, you are going to lose so try something different!

Rui with the catch and shoot from deep- ties it at 15

Smart gotta pass that back out- don't want to challenge Holmgren inside like that

Rui another triple- trying to keep the Lakers afloat. But can't be turning the ball over after a stop- OKC gets another Wallace 3 from that ugh

Way to battle as guys stopped OKC 3 time in a row in one possession, and Kennard's triple makes it only a 6 point deficit at the end of 1Q.

Key corner triple by Lebron, but OKC wit the lucky break as Hartenstein's airball becomes a lob pass for Holmgren smh

Rui stay shot- timeout OKC!

Reaves and 1 over Wallace inside- notches it at 47!

That's the way to do it- good defense translates to easy offense.

AR gotta be careful as he's been showing up the officials, annoyed that he hasn't been getting calls.

Bad reffing as they call Kennard for a foul for doing way less than what OKC has been doing to Reaves.

Terrific second Q by the Lakers who lead 59-57 at the half. Gotta really come out with the same focus and intensity in the 3rd.

Again, the Lakers hold their own in the first half.

Playing Kleber is useless though it was good to see Thiero get a few minutes.

If JJ is considering energy, he will get the youth in the game in the second half.

That should help as Dort gets his 4th foul a few minutes into the 3rd

Tough sequence as Lebron doesn't convert or draw the foul again on the drive, and they run the other way for a dunk.

Why can’t this team figure out how to play a 3rd quarter?

Not a pretty shot by Ayton- a two handed bunny floater that doesn't draw iron. Rebounds it but can't convert the layup vs Holgmgren.

Big shot by Lebron to stop the bleeding. Guys gotta wake up here and cut this thing back to single digits

Defense struggling without Smart in there- he comes in now for James

Reaves another turnover inside- leads to another layup by OKC

How’s the officiating? I’m not watching this series. Have no interest in watching the NBA Thunder and their goons of refs take over games.

How’s the officiating? I’m not watching this series. Have no interest in watching the NBA Thunder and their goons of refs take over games.

I'd say they're favoring OKC a little more this game, which is an improvement from the last 2 games when they shafted the Lakers badly.

Good energy provided by Thiero and Smart, but Joe gets a pair of open 3's, and the Lakers trail by 11 going into the 4th.

Lebron is terrible…… bench him asap

Ayton need to retire when lebron does

hachi is on fire from 3, give him the ball…

Wow they overturn Reaves getting fouled shooting a 3 into an offensive foul on Rui WTH?

Ayton is just out of it as he has no interest in rebounding, now shoves Mitchell for an and-1 ugh

When lakers run offense through lebron, it’s never a successful story…. Maybe it’s lakers farewell to him lol

Ayton need to retire when lebron does

Energy just isn't there. That's the right move to put Thiero in

Well if OKC is going to chuck in 3's like that it's gonna be tough

Lebron should take ayton with him when he retire

Is that Ajay Mitchell or Donovan Mitchell?

Is that Ajay Mitchell or Donovan Mitchell?

Every unknown players played good against lakers

Mitchell is schooling reaves

Lakers game plan: we are going to play just like what we did in game 1 and 2….

At this point, they should let lebron have all the ball until he retire. lol

It’s going to be an interesting offseason for the lakers. Lakers should be in good hands with Luka leading them.

AR gotta be careful as he's been showing up the officials, annoyed that he hasn't been getting calls.

Reaves game relies upon 5-10 foul shots a game like James Harden.

The refs have not been acknowledging many of the calls which has a greater impact upon him besides just poor officiating.

If the officiating has been that bad, and from what I’ve read, it’s been absolutely horrendous, I wouldn’t even bother playing any starters in game 4. Make a statement to the NBA as they watch their ratings tank. Throw in Bronny and the rest of the third string guys and let whoever is watching that trash experience an absolute bloodbath. Does it really matter? The NBA had decided that the Thunder will repeat and it will be so. It’s clear to me now that organized sports are as fake as the WWE. At the end of the day, it’s all just a hoax. Not sure if they are doing it for ratings or they are doing it for betting. That is unclear to me.

Not a bad idea until 50% of all of your season ticket holders decide to watch the game at home next season on their 100" game room tv's.

Not a bad idea until 50% of all of your season ticket holders decide to watch the game at home next season on their 100" game room tv's.

I was just saying for the last game against the NBA Thunder. What's the point in playing the starters? Just play the third string guys to make a point.