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Thunder Sweep Lakers, Start 8-0; Finals Tickets On Sale

5/14/2026

29 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Thunder Sweep Lakers

Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 in Game 4, completing a sweep.
The sweep gave the Thunder an 8-0 playoff start, a franchise first.
Fans at Will Rogers International Airport waved brooms, some assembled only 30 minutes before arriving.
Western Conference Finals tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. May 13 via Ticketmaster.
Oklahoma City will host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 of the conference finals after a week off.

Summary

Lakers Near Greatness

JJ Redick said the Lakers were “darn close” to championship habits despite being swept.
They won 16 of 18 games from late February to early April before injuries halted it.
Austin Reaves had 27 points and eight turnovers in Game 4.
Deandre Ayton posted 10 points, six rebounds in 24 minutes in Game 3, exposing interior woes.
The Lakers ranked 20th in defensive rating (115.5 per 100 possessions) and eyed Thunder bench talent.

History

Historical Context

In 2001 the Lakers completed a historic 15-1 playoff run, sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 to claim their second straight title. That era of dominant sweeps set a benchmark for franchise momentum. In 2024 the Oklahoma City Thunder echoed the pattern by sweeping the Lakers and starting the postseason 8-0, signaling a new power shift and fresh revenue prospects for Oklahoma City.

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Thunder Sweep Lakers

Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 in Game 4, completing a sweep.
The sweep gave the Thunder an 8-0 playoff start, a franchise first.
Fans at Will Rogers International Airport waved brooms, some assembled only 30 minutes before arriving.
Western Conference Finals tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. May 13 via Ticketmaster.
Oklahoma City will host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 of the conference finals after a week off.

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