Thunder run Lakers out of OKC 125-107, take 2-0 lead in West semis

The defending champs are flexing. Oklahoma City handled the Lakers 125-107 in Game 2 Thursday night and now heads west up 2-0 in the Western Conference semis. Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each scored 22, six Thunder players hit double figures, and OKC pulled away in the second half the way it has all season.

The Lakers are still operating without Luka Doncic, who has been out since April 2 with a left hamstring strain. LeBron led LA in Game 1 with 27. He could not save them in Game 2. The shorthanded Lakers shot it like a team that ran out of ideas — too many empty trips, no answer for OKC's switching, and the Thunder bench outscored LA's reserves by a comfortable margin.

The series shifts to Crypto.com Arena for Game 3 on Saturday. The Lakers have not lost three straight in this postseason and they are not built to dig out of an 0-3 hole. If Doncic does not return for Game 3, this thing could be over by Tuesday.