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Gilgeous-Alexander’s 28 points lead Thunder’s 139-96 rout of Lakers as Doncic hurts hamstring

Gilgeous-Alexander’s 28 points lead Thunder's 139-96 rout of Lakers as Doncic hurts hamstring | iNFOnews.ca
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (12) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Los Angeles Lakers 139-96 on Thursday night in a game in which NBA leading scorer Luka Doncic left due to injury.

Only six times in their storied history have the Lakers been defeated by more points. They fell six points short of their worst margin of defeat ever — a 49-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks in 2017.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning league MVP, got the best of his matchup with Doncic — one of Gilgeous-Alexander’s top competitors for this season’s award. Doncic had scored at least 40 points in five of his previous seven games, but he finished with 12 points on 3-for-10 shooting from the field and 1-for-7 shooting from 3-point range against the Thunder’s suffocating defense.

Doncic left the game with a left hamstring injury in the middle of the third quarter. Lakers coach JJ Redick said he will have an MRI on Friday.

Austin Reaves scored 15 points and LeBron James added 13 for the Lakers.

Isaiah Joe added 20 points and made six 3-pointers as Oklahoma City shot 53.9% to turn a matchup between two of the league’s hottest teams into a blowout. The Thunder have now won 16 of 17. The Lakers had won four straight and 13 of 14.

It was a critical game for Oklahoma City. The Thunder entered the night two games ahead of San Antonio in the race for homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs with six games remaining.

In a sign of things to come in the game, it took the Lakers nearly five minutes to make their first field goal. The Thunder led 44-21 at the end of the first behind 14 points from Lu Dort.

The Lakers had another shooting drought to start the second quarter, taking a little more than four minutes to make their field goal. The Thunder reached their season high point total for a first half when they took a 76-41 lead on a layup by Gilgeous-Alexander with 3:25 left in the second quarter.

Oklahoma City led 82-51 at the break, falling a point short of the Thunder regular-season record for points in a half. They scored 83 in the first half of a game against Minnesota in 2021.

Joe hit three 3-pointers in an 85-second flurry to put the Thunder up 99-61 in the third quarter. The teams played reserves throughout the fourth quarter.

The Lakers will host a rematch on April 7.

Up next

Lakers: Visit the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Thunder: Host the Utah Jazz on Sunday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Gilgeous-Alexander’s 28 points lead Thunder's 139-96 rout of Lakers as Doncic hurts hamstring | iNFOnews.ca
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Gilgeous-Alexander’s 28 points lead Thunder's 139-96 rout of Lakers as Doncic hurts hamstring | iNFOnews.ca
Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Dončić (77) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April. 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Gilgeous-Alexander’s 28 points lead Thunder's 139-96 rout of Lakers as Doncic hurts hamstring | iNFOnews.ca
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, April. 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)
Gilgeous-Alexander’s 28 points lead Thunder's 139-96 rout of Lakers as Doncic hurts hamstring | iNFOnews.ca
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, April. 2, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)

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The Associated Press

Cliff Brunt

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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