Lakers Crush Thunder 126-99, Fueled by Luka Dončić’s Stellar First Half

 As the NBA regular season nears its end, the Oklahoma City Thunder are maintaining their hold on the league’s best record, positioning themselves as the top team. But Sunday was not their day.

Just one game after falling short of the 70-win mark, the Thunder suffered a home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in a dominant 126-99 performance. The Lakers quickly built a commanding double-digit lead in the first half and never looked back.

After a competitive first quarter, the Lakers seized control in the second, pushing their lead to as much as 29 points. The Thunder’s 56-78 halftime deficit marked the most points they’ve allowed in a half this season.

L.A.'s first-half surge was led by Luka Dončić, who scored 22 points, including five 3-pointers. The Lakers hit 15 first-half 3-pointers—tying a franchise record—with contributions from Austin Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Gabe Vincent, each hitting three.

The second half followed a similar script, as the Lakers kept OKC at bay. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his MVP push with 26 points but went scoreless late in the game. Despite the Lakers committing 15 turnovers, the Thunder couldn’t make a dent in the deficit.

Strong performances from Finney-Smith and Vincent off the bench, along with a second-half surge from LeBron James (19 points), helped the Lakers cruise to victory. But it was Dončić’s standout play that truly stole the show—his 30 points, despite a bloody lip in the second half, were a testament to his resilience.

In the final minute, Bronny James added a 3-pointer, capping off a solid performance for Los Angeles.

With the Thunder (64-14) already securing the No. 1 seed, the Lakers’ win was crucial as they push for positioning in the Western Conference. Sitting at 48-30, L.A. holds third place, but the race is tight: five teams are within one or two wins of the Lakers, all clinching playoff spots. With just four games left in the regular season, the Lakers still have a shot at the No. 2 seed, but they could also fall out of the top six, potentially landing in the play-in tournament.