LOS ANGELES : Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 on Monday to complete a four-game sweep and advance to the Western Conference finals.
Ajay Mitchell added 28 points for the defending NBA champions, while Chet Holmgren contributed 16 points and nine rebounds and Jared McCain scored 13.
Oklahoma City improved to 8-0 in the postseason and will next face either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the San Antonio Spurs.
The Thunder shot 51.9% from the field and completed a season sweep of Los Angeles, winning all eight meetings between the teams in 2025-26, including the regular season.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 27 points, while Rui Hachimura added 25 points and eight rebounds. LeBron James finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds in what could potentially be his final game for Los Angeles.
The 41-year-old James is set to become an unrestricted free agent after completing his record 23rd NBA season.
Jaxson Hayes scored 18 points for the Lakers, who were without Luka Doncic throughout the playoffs because of a hamstring injury suffered in April.
The Lakers rallied from a 12-point third-quarter deficit with a 22-9 run to take an 84-80 lead into the final period.
Los Angeles later moved ahead 110-109 with 40.9 seconds remaining after a four-point play from Hachimura and a three-point play by Marcus Smart.
Holmgren answered with a dunk to restore the Thunder’s lead before Gilgeous-Alexander calmly made two free throws with 12.2 seconds left to make it 113-110.
Reaves then missed a potential game-tying three-pointer with eight seconds remaining, and Mitchell sealed the victory from the free-throw line.
James missed a late floater over Isaiah Hartenstein in the closing moments as the Thunder completed the sweep.
