As Ajay Mitchell makes history and Chet Holmgren dominates the paint, Oklahoma City eyes a sweep. Can the Lakers survive the Thunder’s sharpshooting bench and fix their turnovers?
Oklahoma City won Game 3 by a score of 131-108 largely due to Ajay Mitchell. The sophomore scored 24 points and became the first player in Thunder playoff history to record at least 10 assists without committing a turnover, according to StatMuse.
Will the champs pull off another sweep and earn some much-needed rest before the Western Conference Finals? Check out key matchups for Game 4, which is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Central on Amazon Prime.
Chet Holmgren’s Impact
The former second overall pick leads Oklahoma City in scoring this series at 21.3 points per game, and he’s doing so on 68.3% true shooting. That’s a superb blend of volume and efficiency.
Los Angeles is blitzing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and collapsing the defense when the MVP or Ajay Mitchell penetrate the paint. As a result, Holmgren is feasting on lobs while also bailing out the offense via pull-up triples and fadeaway jumpers. His success as a scorer effectively punishes the Lakers’ defensive strategy.
On the other end, he’s grabbing 10 rebounds per game and logging 3.7 stocks per game. Holmgren’s length and help defense are a major reason behind why Los Angeles is only converting a putrid 59.7% of its restricted area attempts.
If Holmgren has another monstrous game, then Game 4 should end the series.
Thunder’s Bench Shooting
McCain racked up 30 total points through the first two games, while Joe took his turn in Game 3 to the tune of 12 points. The sharpshooters have shot a combined 14-of-21 from distance this series, and their gravity has opened up the court for teammates.
Cason Wallace is also 7-of-12 on triples this series, which is an encouraging sign given his regular season woes. Wallace morphs from a great to transcendent role player when he’s knocking down jump shots.
If McCain, Joe and Wallace continue to run hot in Game 4, then the non-Gilgeous-Alexander minutes will receive a massive spark and likely put the contest out of reach.
Possession Battle
The Lakers have committed 16 more total turnovers than the Thunder this series but have grabbed six more offensive rebounds. These two areas are crucial because Oklahoma City is nearly unbeatable when it dominates the possession battle.
Austin Reaves is a name to monitor. He’s averaging 4.6 turnovers per game due to the Thunder’s defensive pressure. Reaves has to take care of the basketball if the Lakers are going to extend the series.