LeBron James Could Make Unwanted NBA History if Thunder Beat Lakers
Three video games in, the Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t simply main this sequence. They’re making the Los Angeles Lakers seem like they haven’t any enterprise being on the identical ground.
Oklahoma City you’ve outscored Los Angeles by 59 mixed factors by way of three video games. Game 3 was probably the most lopsided of the bunch, a 131-108 blowout the place Ajay Mitchell went off for twenty-four factors and 10 assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander you’ve been your regular self, Chet Holmgren you’ve made life depressing within the paint, and the Thunder’s depth has worn the Lakers down each single night time. Los Angeles has had no reply for any of it.
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OKC heads into Game 4 tonight at Crypto.com Arena with a 3-0 sequence lead and an opportunity to shut issues out. If they do, it will not simply be one other playoff win. It could be hand LeBron James the earliest sweep of his 23-year profession and some of the uncomfortable exits the league has seen from its all-time main scorer.
“If OKC beats LA tonight, it’ll be just the fourth time LeBron James has been swept in his career as well as the earliest round he’s been swept.” ESPN shared on X.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defends Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James (23) in recreation three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
ESPN additional famous that Oklahoma City has now crushed the Lakers in all seven conferences this season. That’s probably the most consecutive wins in opposition to the Lakers in a single season, common season and playoffs mixed, for the reason that 1976-77 NBA-ABA merger.
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LeBron Facing a Record He Never Wanted
For James, that is unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory. He’s been swept 3 times earlier than, in 2007, 2018 and 2023, however every of these got here in both the finals or the convention finals. A second-round sweep could be one thing new totally.
The absence of Luka Doncic makes every part more durable. The Lakers’ star guard continues to be out with a hamstring harm, and with out that major offensive menace, the defensive consideration on James and Austin Reaves you’ve been relentless.
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James has nonetheless put up numbers. He’s averaging 23 factors, 6.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per recreation whereas capturing 51.9 % from the sphere and 37.5 % from three. Those are stable figures in opposition to the NBA‘s top-ranked protection, however they have not been sufficient to swing the sequence.
Nobody is aware of playoff basketball higher than LeBron James. He lived by way of the best comeback in historical past in 2016 when cleveland erased a 3-1 deficit in opposition to the Golden State Warriors.
But to maintain that sort of hope alive right here, James must be nearer to a triple-double each night time. Game 4 is as near a must-win because it will get.
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This story was initially revealed by Athlon Sports on May 11, 2026, the place it first appeared within the NBA part. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.