The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently making the NBA playoffs look like a varsity-versus-JV scrimmage. After dismantling the Los Angeles Lakers 131-108 on Friday night, OKC stayed perfect this postseason with a dominant 7-0 record. While the usual suspects did their thing, it was rookie Ajay Mitchell who stole the spotlight at Crypto.com Arena.
Mitchell looked like he belonged in the bright lights of Hollywood. The young guard scorched the Lakers for a game-high 24 points, proving he is a vital piece of Mark Daigneault’s rotation. After the game, Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn't surprised by the breakout performance, officially labeling Mitchell a “gamer.”
“Yeah, he's a gamer, works super hard, he's never shaken by the moment,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It might be a shock to the world but it's no shock to us. We knew who Ajay Mitchell was the day he stepped foot in our building and he's just showing it to the world.”
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"Stay true to our Identity"
SGA on what OKC needs to do to close out the sweep in Game 4. pic.twitter.com/oatVcwCTBC
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 10, 2026
The Thunder offense operated as a well-oiled machine, shooting the lights out to secure a commanding 3-0 series lead. Gilgeous-Alexander orchestrated the blowout with 22 points and eight assists, while Jalen Williams added 18 points of his own. On the other side, the Lakers looked shell-shocked. Rui Hachimura led L.A. with 21 points, and LeBron James chipped in 19 points and eight assists, but the effort wasn't nearly enough to keep pace with OKC’s track team.
The Lakers’ defense had no answer for Mitchell’s aggression or the Thunder’s relentless ball movement. L.A. now faces the impossible task of overcoming a 3-0 deficit, a feat never accomplished in NBA history. For OKC, the vibes couldn't be higher. With a “gamer” like Mitchell emerging as a legitimate scoring threat, the Thunder are sending a chilling message to the rest of the league.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently making the NBA playoffs look like a varsity-versus-JV scrimmage. After dismantling the Los Angeles Lakers 131-108 on Friday night, OKC stayed perfect this postseason with a dominant 7-0 record. While the usual suspects did their thing, it was rookie Ajay Mitchell who stole the spotlight at Crypto.