Thunder vs Lakers live score updates, highlights, TV, streaming

The Los Angeles Lakers are at a crossroads.

They’ve shown they’ve been able to hang with the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder for three quarters through the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals, but have unraveled each time in the fourth and find themselves down 0-2 as the series shifts back to LA.

There have been signs of growth, though. Austin Reaves finally broke through for 31 points and six assists in Game 2 on Thursday. Jarred Vanderbilt is available after dislocating his right pinky in Game 1, and Luke Kennard is off the injury report entirely after previously being listed as questionable with neck soreness. The Lakers have done a solid job of limiting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but it’s been the Thunder’s depth that has separated them early in this series.

“We’ve gotta be better in the non-Shai minutes,” coach JJ Redick told reporters pregame. “We’re looking at different lineups and different coverages in those minutes.”

We’ve got you covered on everything you need to know to tune in for tip off of Game 3.

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OKC outscored the Lakers by 25 points in the second half, their second-worst margin since the franchise moved to LA in 1960. Ajay Mitchell has been stellar for the Thunder in the absence of Jalen Williams, even more so tonight with a 24-point, 10-assist performance to put them ahead 3-0 in the series. The Thunder are now one win away from another trip to the Western Conference Finals and will be looking for their second straight sweep in this year’s playoffs.

LA, meanwhile, is now facing elimination in what might be LeBron James’ final game in a Laker uniform.

Game 3 has gone exactly according to the blueprint the first two set. The Lakers start out strong, but OKC eventually wears them down and eventually grinds out a lopsided win. This time around, LA took a two-point lead into the half but have been outscored 63-38 in the final two quarters.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick empties the bench with 3:37 to go, so Game 3 is just about over.

OKC dominated coming out of the half, taking advantage of a poor shooting quarter for the Lakers (36.4% in the third) and four turnovers early.

OKC has taken an advantage of four Laker turnovers to begin the second half to retake the lead. The Thunder are on an 11-0 run over the last three minutes to race out to a 13-point. The Lakers, meanwhile, have more turnovers (4) than made baskets (3) to start the third.

LA outscored OKC 34-26 in the second quarter behind 16 points from Rui Hachimura and 13 from Luke Kennard, who are shooting a combined 7-of-8 from three-point range. Reaves has struggled in spots and has been visibly frustrated with the referees, but nonetheless has scored 12 points to go along with eight assists.

The Lakers bounced back from a rough shooting performance in the first with an 11-of-19 (57.8%) showing in the second. The Thunder are still hanging around, though, as LA takes a lead into the locker room for the second straight game.

James tied the game at 44-all with a three pointer over Jaylin Williams with 5:34 to go before the half and picked up another accolade in the process. With his 125th playoff three in a Laker uniform, James passed franchise legend Michael Cooper for third place on the team’s all-time playoff leaderboard. He trails only Derek Fisher (219) and Kobe Bryant (292).

Hachimura has been a spark for the Lakers with 14 points and shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range halfway through the second quarter, the latest of which brought LA back to within three points as OKC calls timeout.

Despite not being able to find the hoop early on, the Lakers are only down six after making some much-needed shots in the final minute of the first quarter. LA was just 7-for-21 from the field at the 1:38 mark when OKC capped off a 12-3 run to push their lead to double digits, but they responded with a free throw by Jaxson Hayes and a three from Luke Kennard to revive the Crypto.com Arena crowd.

The Thunder on the other hand, have not been able to miss. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been held to just 1-of-7, but the rest of the team is shooting a combined 12-of-17.

Officiating was a hot topic in the aftermath of Game 2, with the lasting image of a contingent of Lakers players confronting the referees as the final buzzer sounded. It didn’t take long at all for a whistle to be blown in Game 3, as a foul was called on Deandre Ayton for hitting Chet Holmgren in the face on the jump ball.

Here’s the starting five for each team: