The NBA playoffs delivered another decisive night as the Oklahoma City Thunder moved within one win of the Western Conference finals and the Cleveland Cavaliers clawed back into their Eastern semifinal. Oklahoma City dominated the Los Angeles Lakers again, while Cleveland relied on late shot-making from James Harden to beat the Detroit Pistons.
Ajay Mitchell led the Thunder with career playoff bests of 24 points and 10 assists in Game 3, guiding a 131-108 win over the Lakers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points and nine assists. The defending champions improved to 7-0 in this postseason and stayed perfect in seven meetings this season with LeBron James and Los Angeles.
Oklahoma City became the NBA's sixth defending champion to open a follow-up
postseason at 7-0. Those seven victories include three straight over a short-handed Lakers team by a combined margin of 59 points. The Thunder again pulled clear after halftime, repeating a pattern that has defined this second-round series.
Chet Holmgren contributed 18 points and nine rebounds as Oklahoma City outscored Los Angeles 33-20 in the third quarter. The Lakers kept pace through much of the first half, then faded once more when the Thunder increased defensive pressure and attacked in transition. Oklahoma City controlled the final period and never faced serious danger late.
LeBron James finished with 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Lakers, while Austin Reaves produced 17 points and nine assists. Both struggled with efficiency, combining to shoot 12-for-32 from the field. Rui Hachimura scored 21 points, but that production still left Los Angeles far short of the champions.
Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal is scheduled for Monday night in Los Angeles, with the Thunder holding a 3-0 series lead. No team has overcome such a deficit in NBA history. Oklahoma City will have a chance to complete the sweep and secure another trip to the Western Conference finals.
Went to work on the road pic.twitter.com/aWOtkECBni OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 10, 2026
Earlier in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers cut Detroit's lead to 2-1 with a 116-109 home victory. Donovan Mitchell drove Cleveland's offense with 35 points, while James Harden added 19 points and decisive baskets in the closing minutes. Jarrett Allen supported with 18 points as the Cavaliers stayed unbeaten in five playoff home games.
Mitchell reached 2,000 career postseason points in his 73rd playoff game, tying for the third-fastest mark among active players and ranking ninth in NBA history. His scoring kept Cleveland close before Harden changed the game late. Harden had been criticised after turnover-heavy finishes in the first two meetings of the series.
Detroit's Cade Cunningham posted his second playoff triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but also committed eight turnovers. Tobias Harris added 21 points. Duncan Robinson's 3-pointer with 3:14 left tied the score at 104-104, briefly swinging momentum before Cleveland responded with a decisive closing stretch.
Harden steadied the Cavaliers after Robinson's shot, answering with key plays inside the final two minutes. The 17-year veteran hit a 16-foot step-back jumper to push Cleveland ahead 108-104. After a driving dunk by Cunningham, Harden made a floating 7-footer to restore a four-point cushion and keep the Cavaliers in command.
Bucket getter, ESP in the clutch. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/gxUEvCbijH Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026
Both results reshaped the NBA playoffs picture, with Oklahoma City closing on another Western Conference finals appearance and Cleveland narrowing Detroit's advantage. The Thunder now seek a sweep in Los Angeles, while the Cavaliers aim to level their series at home in Game 4 on Monday night.
