Thunder rout Lakers again, take 3-0 Western Conference semifinals lead

Oklahoma City did more than push the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink. The Thunder controlled Game 3 from start to finish, rolled to a 131-108 victory at Crypto.com Arena and took a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals, one win from a second straight trip to the Western Conference finals.

The series has become a clear statement about where the two franchises stand. The Thunder, the No. 1 seed and defending NBA champions, have now won all three games by double digits, beating Los Angeles 108-90, 125-107 and 131-108. Oklahoma City is 7-0 in the 2026 playoffs and has beaten the Lakers seven times this season, a run that underscores how fully formed Mark Daigneault’s team has become on both ends of the floor.

Game 3 also exposed the gap in depth that has widened with each loss. Ajay Mitchell delivered career playoff highs with 24 points and 10 assists, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points and nine assists. The Thunder kept generating fresh pressure, making the Lakers defend multiple actions, multiple ball-handlers and multiple scorers over 48 minutes. NBA.com pointed to Oklahoma City’s depth, defense and efficiency, along with too many Lakers turnovers, as the main reasons the game slipped away.

Los Angeles had an early response through Rui Hachimura, who scored 16 first-half points, but the spark did not last. The Lakers could not sustain enough offensive control once Oklahoma City tightened the game in the second half. JJ Redick’s team has spent the series trying to solve a matchup it has not come close to cracking, especially after Luka Dončić was ruled out following a left hamstring strain suffered in the April 2 loss to the Thunder.

The schedule now turns to Game 4 on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 10:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video. The Lakers face elimination with three straight double-digit defeats already on the board, while Oklahoma City stands on the edge of another conference finals appearance with the poise, balance and roster flexibility of a team built for a long run.