- Matchup: Los Angeles Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder
- Scheduled Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
- Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
- Broadcast: NBC
- Betting Odds/Point Spread: Los Angeles (+15.5)
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18) will host the Los Angeles Lakers (53-29) in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Paycom Center. The Lakers open as 15.5-point underdogs, with an over/under set at 213.5.
The Lakers triumphed over the Rockets in 6 games, concluding the series with a score of 98-78. In terms of fouls, Los Angeles committed 19, while Houston had 23. The Lakers only made 5 of their 28 attempts from three-point range, and the Rockets converted 70.8% of their free throws, sinking 17 of 24. Houston secured 45 rebounds (8 offensive, 37 defensive) and managed 9 blocked shots. The Rockets recorded 13 assists and 6 steals in this matchup. Defensively, Los Angeles limited the Rockets to 35.0% shooting from the field, allowing them to score on 28 of 80 attempts. The Lakers accumulated 19 assists, forced 14 turnovers, and earned 4 steals. On the boards, Los Angeles grabbed 54 rebounds, including 15 offensive ones. At the free-throw line, they converted 14 of 24 attempts for a rate of 58.3%, while shooting 40.4% overall (36 of 89) and hitting 12 of 28 from distance.
LeBron James was a standout player in this matchup, finishing with a 40.0% shooting percentage from the field, along with 8 assists. He played for 37 minutes, secured 7 rebounds, and ultimately tallied 28 points on 10 of 25 shooting.
The Lakers head into this game with a season record of 53-29. They average 116.3 points per game, ranking 11th in the league, while boasting a field goal percentage of 50.2%. The team has a three-point shooting percentage of 35.9% (970 of 2,701) and converts 76.3% of their free throw attempts. Los Angeles averages 41.0 rebounds per game and has recorded 2,122 assists this season, ranking 17th in the league. The team averages 14.5 turnovers and commits about 18.5 personal fouls per game.
On the defensive side, the Lakers force 14.6 turnovers per game and draw 21.0 personal fouls, conceding 35.2% from beyond the arc. They rank 11th in the league for points allowed per game at 114.6. The Lakers’ opponent shooting percentage reaches 48.3% (3,485 of 7,221), and they allow 41.0 rebounds a game as a unit. In terms of assists surrendered, they are ranked 18th with 2,250 assists given up this year.
In their last game, the Thunder secured a 131-122 victory over the Suns, sweeping the series. On the glass, Oklahoma City allowed Phoenix to seize 33 rebounds overall (10 offensive). The Thunder finished with a 35.9% three-point success rate, hitting 14 of 39 attempts, and converted 12 of 16 free throw attempts (75.0%). The Suns were successful on 48 of 90 field goal attempts, equating to a shooting percentage of 53.3%. In the game, the Thunder shot 44 out of 82 (53.7%) from the field, including hitting 17 of 34 three-pointers (50.0%). They managed to sink 26 free throws for a 86.7% rate and took advantage of 30 fouls committed by the Suns. Oklahoma City preserved possession with 5 steals, while racking up a total of 39 rebounds (26 defensive and 13 offensive).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played a pivotal role for the Thunder, hitting 10 of 17 attempts in the game for a 58.8% shooting rate, contributing 2 rebounds and finishing with 31 points and 8 assists in 38 minutes.
Oklahoma City holds a shiny record of 64-18 this season. In offense, the Thunder boast a 48.4% field goal percentage, ranking 5th in the league. They have amassed a total of 9,760 points (119.0 per game) and collect 44.1 rebounds per game. The team averages 25.8 assists per contest (19th in the NBA) and turns the ball over an average of 12.6 times per game, along with committing 19.0 fouls per game while maintaining a free throw success rate of 81.7%.
On defense, Oklahoma City ranks 2nd in the league for points allowed per game at 107.9. They force 16.7 turnovers per game and restrict shooting percentages to 43.7% from the field (1st in the NBA). The Thunder allow opponents to shoot 36.9% on three-pointers (1,176 of 3,189) and permit a foul shooting percentage of 74.0%. They also concede an average of 25.0 assists and 45.2 rebounds per game, ranking them 5th and 20th in the NBA, respectively.
Who will claim victory in tonight’s NBA showdown against the spread?
Prediction: Bet on Oklahoma City (-15.5)
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
