LA Lakers Eliminated From NBA Playoffs
Last update: May 12, 2026
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Oklahoma City Thunder complete dominant 4-0 series victory as uncertainty grows over LeBron James’ NBA future after Lakers playoff exit.
The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Los Angeles Lakers out of the NBA playoffs on Monday, claiming a 115-110 victory to complete a 4-0 series triumph in what could prove to be the final game of LeBron James’ legendary career.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 35 points as the defending champions advanced to the Western Conference finals after securing their second sweep of the postseason, following a 4-0 first-round victory over Phoenix.
Lakers star James, now 41, is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to reveal whether he will return for a 24th NBA campaign.
Oklahoma City will now face either the San Antonio Spurs or Minnesota Timberwolves for a place in the NBA Finals. The two teams are currently tied 2-2 in their best-of-seven semifinal series.
Monday’s loss ended James’ latest pursuit of a fifth NBA championship and brought a disappointing conclusion to his record 23rd season in the league.
However, James’ 24 points and 12 rebounds were not enough as the Thunder remained composed and resisted a spirited Lakers comeback in the second half.
Attention has now shifted to James’ future, with fans waiting to see whether the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and 22-time NBA All-Star will continue his glittering career.
James, who joined the Lakers from Cleveland in 2018, enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and will be free to consider offers from other teams if he decides to continue playing.
Speculation over his next move has intensified in recent weeks. Some reports suggest he could extend his stay with the Lakers, while others claim he may either seek a move elsewhere or retire from basketball entirely.
The Lakers had appeared capable of making a deep title run after an impressive finish to the regular season, winning 15 of 17 games in March behind outstanding performances from Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and James.
But a long-term injury suffered by Doncic in early April ruled him out for the postseason, while an injury to Reaves further weakened the Lakers during the playoffs.
James produced a vintage performance to lead the Lakers to a surprise 4-2 first-round series win over the Houston Rockets, but even with Reaves returning to the lineup, the 17-time NBA champions were comprehensively outclassed by Oklahoma City.
