Sharjah 24: The Oklahoma City Thunder took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA playoffs after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2.
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons capitalised on home-court advantage, having topped their respective conferences in the regular season, and took a 2-0 lead in the NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Thunder extending lead
In Oklahoma City, after winning the first game of the series 108-90, the Thunder extended their lead over LeBron James and his Lakers teammates with a 125-107 victory in the second game of the best-of-seven series. This was thanks to 22 points each from Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chaet Holmgren.
Ajay Mitchell and Jaren McCain also shone, with Mitchell scoring 20 points and McCain adding 18, in the defending champions' sixth consecutive playoff win, extending their sweep of the Phoenix Suns from the first round (4-0).
The series now moves to Cleveland on Saturday.
Continuing without their star Slovenian player Luka Doncic, who is sidelined for the playoffs with no return date set, the Lakers struggled with foul trouble on Thursday. Three of their players were one foul away from being benched, limiting their defensive efforts.
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