Thunder Cruise to 123-87 Victory Over Injury-Depleted Lakers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC with 25 points and 8 assists

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:06am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors, depicting the frenetic energy and movement of a basketball game, with players' forms dissolving into energetic brushstrokes.The Thunder's high-octane offense overwhelms the short-handed Lakers in a lopsided victory.Los Angeles Today

The Oklahoma City Thunder easily defeated the injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers 123-87 on Tuesday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder with 25 points and 8 assists, while Isaiah Joe hit 6 three-pointers. The Lakers were missing several key players, including Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, and struggled to score throughout the game.

Why it matters

This win extends the Thunder's hot streak, as they have now won 18 of their last 19 games. Meanwhile, the Lakers' loss is a setback in their push for a higher playoff seed in the Western Conference, as they have now dropped three straight games since losing Doncic and Reaves to injury.

The details

The Thunder took control of the game in the second quarter, finishing the half on a 23-5 run to build a comfortable lead. The Lakers were held to just 22 points over the next 24 minutes of play. Rookie Adou Thiero scored a career-high 10 points for the Lakers, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Thunder's balanced scoring attack.

  • The Thunder and Lakers faced off on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who had 25 points and 8 assists in the win.

Isaiah Joe

The Thunder guard who hit 6 three-pointers in the game.

Luka Doncic

The Lakers star player who is out for the rest of the regular season with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain.

LeBron James

The Lakers veteran who sat out the game to rest his arthritic left foot.

Adou Thiero

The Lakers rookie who scored a career-high 10 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play with this level of energy and execution if we want to make a deep playoff run.”

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder Guard

“Losing Luka and Austin was a big blow, but we have to find a way to compete and win games, even with this depleted roster.”

— JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach

What’s next

The Thunder will look to continue their hot streak when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. The Lakers, meanwhile, will try to bounce back when they face the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the stark contrast between the surging Thunder and the injury-plagued Lakers. While Oklahoma City continues to prove itself as one of the top teams in the NBA, Los Angeles' playoff positioning is in jeopardy due to key injuries to their star players.