Lakers-Thunder: Do LeBron James and Co. have any chance against champs? Series keys, schedule and prediction

The Western Conference’s top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champions, will play the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. The two franchises have not faced off in the postseason since 2011-12, when the Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook/James Harden-led Thunder defeated the Lakers in the second round on their way to the NBA Finals.

Schedule | Odds | Thunder breakdown | Lakers breakdown
Head-to-head | Matchup to watch | Key question | Prediction

Series schedule (all times Eastern)

Game 1: Tue., May 5 at Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock)
Game 2: Thu., May 7 at Oklahoma City (9:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 3: Sat., May 9 at Los Angeles (8:30 p.m., ABC)
Game 4: Mon., May 11 at Los Angeles (10:30 p.m., Prime Video)
Game 5: Wed., May 13 at Oklahoma City (TBD) *
Game 6: Sat., May 16 at Los Angeles (TBD) *
Game 7: Mon., May 18 at Oklahoma City (TBD) *

*if necessary

Series odds

Oklahoma City Thunder (-2000)
Los Angeles Lakers (+950)

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What we know about the Lakers

That age is nothing but a number.

Let’s put aside the fact that LeBron James, at 41 years old, led the charge in the elimination of an energetic, extremely physical and talented Rockets team by averaging 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game in nearly 40 minutes a night. That alone is an absurdity in itself.

It’s how impactful and pivotal he was over the course of six games, even without the assistance of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves (for two-thirds of the time). Los Angeles won James’ minutes by 5.8 points per 100 possessions (the equivalent of a top-eight team during the regular season) and was outscored by 9.1 points per 100 when he sat, an efficiency that would slot nicely between the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings. That drastic of an on/off split places LeBron among the top-10 most impactful postseason performers thus far, with the caveat that six of them are 20 years younger than James and four of them have since been eliminated.

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Because the playoffs, and this series in particular, will be about the tactical tête-à-tête, the Lakers will have their work cut…

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Author : Kelly Iko

Publish date : 2026-05-04 18:35:00

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