The reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder took a 2-0 lead against the Los Angeles Lakers in a four game series in the Western Conference playoff semifinals with a 125-107 home win on Thursday.
More spirited players of Thunder “broke” the resistance of the visitors in the second half of the match.
After the first 24 minutes, the Lakers had a minimal advantage of 58-57, but the home team won the third quarter with a score of 36-22, created a 13-point advantage, and in the last quarter the difference grew to 20 points.
Thunder shooters were led Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren with 22 steals each, Ajay Mitchell added 20 and Jared McCain 18 on 4-5 3-point shooting.
It’s with the Lakers Austin Reaves had a much better performance than in the first game, but his 31 goals didn’t mean much like LeBron James’ 23 points.
After two opening games in Oklahoma City, in which the Thunder defended their home field advantage, the teams move to Los Angeles, where the next two matches will be played on Saturday and Monday.
The home field advantage for a 2-0 lead in the series was also used by the first seeds of the Eastern Conference Detroit Pistons who outplayed on Thursday Cleveland Cavaliers with 107-97.
The home team was in advantage practically throughout the meeting, the guests only briefly took the lead at the beginning of the last quarter, and five minutes before the end it was only 94-91 for the Pistons.
Then Cade Cunningham, then Tobias Harris hit the visitors’ basket and ensured their team a tangible advantage before the very end.
Cunningham led the Pistons scorers with 25 steals and added 10 assists, while the veteran Harris stopped at 21.
It’s with the guests Donovan Mitchell scored 31, Jarrett Allen added 22, but was held up by James Harden with just 10 shots on 3-13 shooting.
Detroit is now only two wins away from the first place in the conference finals after 17 years, while Cleveland has to rely on a “hot” home field in the next two games and the continuation of the series of victories in their hall in which they had a perfect 4-0 performance against the Toronto Raptors in the first round.
(China | Photo: OKC)
