LeBron led the Lakers, but help ran cold

LeBron James was excellent with 27 points on 12-of-17, 6 assists and a team-high 8.4 Sofascore Rating. Rui Hachimura added 18 points with three threes, while Marcus Smart posted 12 points, 7 assists and 4 steals.

The supporting cast struggled to finish. Austin Reaves shot 3-of-16 for 8 points despite 6 assists. The Lakers had 17 turnovers and shot 41 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep. They did win the offensive glass 12 to 9 but could not turn those into enough points.

Game flow and key numbers

The Lakers jumped ahead early and led by as many as 7 in the first quarter. From there, OKC took control and never let go. The Thunder led for 37:48, pushed the margin to 21, and won each of the final three quarters.

Shooting told the story. OKC hit 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from three, plus 91 percent on free throws. The Lakers finished at 41 percent overall, 33 percent from three and 76 percent at the line. The Thunder also edged rebounds 44 to 41, assists 29 to 26, and blocks 7 to 4, while keeping turnovers to 14.

Thunder’s supporting cast passes the first test

Ajay Mitchell was sharp with 18 points and 4 assists. Luguentz Dort hit two threes and added 4 assists. Around Holmgren’s rim protection, OKC’s rotation kept the ball moving and made open shots. The result was a balanced playoff win that protected home court to open the Western Conference semifinals.

Fans can find the full box score, player Sofascore Ratings, shot charts and highlights on Sofascore.