Category: NBA

Before the Lakers successfully ended their first round playoff series against the Rockets, coach JJ Redick explained what makes close out games so challenging.

“You have to kill them,” Redick said. “It’s difficult to kill someone. Survival instincts say, ‘I want to stay alive.’ So, you got to be able to kill them. That’s what [it takes].”

The Lakers’ sense of urgency in Monday’s Game 4 against the Thunder at Crypto.com Arena, with their season on the line, showed exactly why that’s the case.

But in the end, the Thunder killed the Lakers’ 2025-26 season, with the Lakers falling to the Thunder, 115-110, in Game 4 to be eliminated from the playoffs.

“When the season ends there’s always a whirlwind of emotions,” Redick said. “I am certainly feeling a sense of gratitude for our players, the Lakers, and our fan base. You’ve seen these 3-0 games before; I thought there were two different times during the game where our team could have gave in or let go of the rope. We didn’t.”

Each fourth-quarter bucket from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell were deep gashes into the Lakers’ chest.

The Lakers kept responding, not letting anything take away from their fight, getting big plays from everyone on the floor late. 

But there were too many daggers to recover from.

The Lakers didn’t score in the final 30 seconds. And the Thunder got dunks from Chet Holmgren and pairs of free throws from Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell to close out Game 4.

Austin Reaves (27 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), Rui Hachimura (25 points), LeBron James (24 points, 12 rebounds) and Jaxson Hayes (18 points, 5 rebounds) all came up big late.

But the Thunder still delivered. And were simply better for the entire series.

“They’re really f—–g good,” Reaves said.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points and eight assists.

Mitchell added 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting, while Holmgren added 16 points and nine rebounds.

What it means

The Lakers’ season ended with a four-game sweep to the defending champions — just the fourth time in James’ career his team has been swept in the playoffs. 

The other times: 2007 NBA Finals against the Spurs, 2018 Finals against the Warriors and the 2023 Western Conference finals to the Nuggets.

The Thunder will face either the Spurs or Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals.

Turning point 

When Jared McCain hit a 3-pointer to cut the Lakers’ lead from 89-84 to three with 8:24 left in the fourth. 

It provided a screeching halt to the Lakers’ momentum that they carried over from the third quarter, which they won 39-31.

MVP: Gilgeous-Alexander

The reigning league MVP saved his best game for the end of the series. 

Gilgeous-Alexander shot 11-for-22 from the field and 12-for-15 on free throws.

He and Mitchell combined for 19 of the Thunder’s 35 points in the fourth quarter.

Stat of the game: 19

Taking care of the ball was an emphasis entering the series.

The Lakers once again failed to do that, turning the ball over 19 times. Reaves had a team-worst eight turnovers, while Marcus Smart had six.

The Thunder scored 22 points off of the Lakers’ giveaways. 

Up next

Exit interviews for the Lakers, with Redick and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka speaking with reporters on Tuesday morning.

All Lakers coach JJ Redick asked of his group was to “win the day.”

That day had to be Monday night, the only day that mattered for a Lakers team on the brink of elimination.

The Lakers came close, but they did not win the day, losing Game 4 115-110 to the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers’ season is over, having been swept 4-0 in the Western Conference semifinal series.

Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 27 points, Rui Hachimura had 25 points and LeBron James had 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Read more:Plaschke: For the sake of their future, Lakers should bid farewell to LeBron James

When the game was over, James hugged several of the Thunder players.

James is in the final year of a contract that paid him $52 million this season, and at 41 and in his 23rd season, the conversations now turn to his future.

Will James retire? Will James return to the Lakers? Will James play for another team?

Those are the big questions going forward.

With 40.9 seconds left in the game, Marcus Smart scored, was fouled and made the free throw for a 110-109 Lakers lead.

But Chet Holmgren scored on a dunk for a 111-110 Thunder lead with 32.8 seconds left.

The Lakers called a timeout to set up a play.

James missed a floater just outside the lane and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 35 points and eight assists, was fouled with 12.2 seconds left. He made both free throws for a 113-100 Thunder lead.

The Lakers called another timeout to set up another play with their season on the line.

Reaves missed a potential game-tying three-pointer and Alex Caruso got the rebound, leading to a timeout for the Thunder with 7.6 seconds remaining.

Ajay Mitchell was fouled after the inbounds pass and made two free throws for a 115-110 lead that stood.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Jared McCain drilled a three-pointer to tie the score at 92-92.

Then James threw a pass away that bounced off two Thunder defenders and Reaves, with the officials ruling it was still the Lakers' possession. The call was challenged by the Thunder. The official review determined that the ball went off Reaves, giving the Thunder the ball with six minutes and 35 seconds left.

Mitchell scored, was fouled by Smart and made the free throw for a three-point play and a 95-92 Thunder lead.

For the first time in this series, the Lakers won the third quarter, outscoring the Thunder 39-31 to open an 84-80 lead heading into the fourth.

Jaxson Hayes punctuated the third with a two-handed dunk, bringing the crowd out of their seats.

The Lakers sizzled in the third quarter, shooting 76.5% from the field and 71.4% from three-point range.

Hachimura was on fire in the third quarter, scoring 12 points on four-for-six shooting.

Reaves had a strong first quarter, scoring eight points on three-for-three shooting, two for two on three-pointers.

With James adding six points and six rebounds, the Lakers opened a 26-21 lead after the first quarter.

But the Thunder hit the Lakers with a 17-0 run to open a 12-point lead in the second quarter.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

LeBron James is unsure about returning for a 24th NBA season after Lakers' exit originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LeBron James says he has no idea whether his 24-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ season-ending playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night was the final game of his NBA career.

The top scorer in league history stuck to the strategy he has taken into the past several summers when he declined to announce his future immediately after the Lakers’ final postseason defeat.

He hasn’t ruled out retirement or a return to the Lakers, and he said nothing about the possibility of moving to another team as he contemplates an unprecedented 24th NBA season.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight,” the 41-year-old James said. “I’ve got a lot of time now. I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota. I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them, and then obviously when the time comes, you guys will know what I decide to do.”

James’ record 23rd season ended with a heartbreaking 115-110 loss, completing a four-game sweep of the short-handed Lakers by the defending NBA champions. Los Angeles began the playoffs without NBA scoring champ Luka Doncic and second-leading scorer Austin Reaves due to injury, yet James led the Lakers to a first-round upset of Houston before running into the league’s best team in the second round.

“It’s amazing what he’s doing out there at this age,” Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s very impressive. It’s hard to put it to words. He’s not very old in the grand scheme of life, but for the NBA, he’s pretty old, and he doesn’t seem like it out there. He was a force. He was the top of the scouting report all series. His size gave us issues at times. He was impressive out there. I’m not sure we’ll see anything like that again, his longevity and his greatness.”

James has played in more games, won more games, scored more points and taken more shots than everybody else who ever put on a uniform, but he has never put a limit on his time in the game.

Instead, he repeated his oft-stated declarations that he’ll figure it out with his family over a few glasses of wine in the next couple of months.

“Nobody has any idea what the future holds, and I don’t either,” James said. “I’ll take time to recalibrate and look over the season and see what’s best for my future, and when I get to that point, everyone will know.”

James showed only marginal signs of age’s encroachment in his 23rd season, continuing to play versatile basketball at an elite level throughout the Lakers’ successful regular season.

Injuries forced his largest compromises: He missed training camp and the first 14 games of the season with sciatica, and he missed eight additional games during the regular season, eliminating him from consideration for inclusion on the All-NBA teams for the 22nd consecutive time.

With Doncic winning the NBA scoring title and Reaves emerging as a legitimate top-level NBA scorer, James willingly assumed a supporting role as the No. 3 option in the Lakers’ offense — and it worked.

His 20.9 points per game were his fewest since his rookie season, largely because his 3-point shooting accuracy declined to 31.7%, and his 33.2 minutes per game were his fewest ever. Yet he contributed 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds with another season of steady performances — and when the Lakers needed him to step up, he did it repeatedly.

“It was so many different seasons in one season with our ballclub,” James said. “Obviously injuries played a big part in it, but as far as our identity, I thought it was super-resilient.”

James was chosen for the All-Star Game for the 22nd time, and right before the midseason break, he became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. He surpassed Robert Parish’s record for the most regular-season games played in late March.

The Lakers picked up steam down the stretch in the regular season, winning 16 of 18 heading into April and kindling hope of being a dark-horse candidate to give trouble to the Thunder or Spurs in the playoffs. But that’s when Doncic and Reaves both incurred major injuries, sidelining both indefinitely.

James handled the disappointment by stepping up and coolly taking charge of the Lakers’ offense again. While nearly every NBA observer wrote off Los Angeles’ chances of any playoff run, James and his supporting cast improbably knocked off the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets in six games in the first round, sending the Lakers into the second round for only the second time since 2020.

“For our group to have the moment that we had when Luka goes down with the hamstring and AR goes down with the oblique and we’re staring down the barrel of a playoff series with Houston, I thought our guys responded and were just super-resilient,” James said. “To win that series was big-time for the group that went out there.”

James’ reasons to prolong his career in Los Angeles would be multifold.

He has spent the past two seasons playing alongside Bronny James, his oldest son and a backup guard for the Lakers. They even got significant playoff minutes together this season, allowing LeBron to live another dream.

His family loves living in Southern California — and while his sons are both out of the family home, he has spoken frequently of his desire to watch the progress of his 11-year-old daughter, Zhuri, a competitive volleyball player.

And the Lakers’ outstanding play down the stretch suggested they could be among the NBA’s best teams with full health for Doncic, James and Reaves — who is expected to sign a massive contract to stay with the Lakers this summer.

Whether the Lakers can actually contend for a championship next season will be one factor that James must weigh, but finding a true title contender to join at this stage of his career would be difficult even if the Thunder and the rising San Antonio Spurs didn’t appear to be head and shoulders above the rest of the league.

For now, James will take time off to enjoy life away from the daily grind that has allowed his career to reach unprecedented lengths — and if he decides not to come back, he doesn’t appear to have regrets about how this season ended.”

“I left everything I could on the floor,” James said. “I control what I can control, and I can leave the floor saying even though I hate losing, I was locked in on what we needed to do.”

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell tied an NBA playoff record with 39 points in the second half and the Cleveland Cavaliers evened their second-round series against the Detroit Pistons with a 112-103 victory Monday night.

Mitchell matched the mark of Eric “Sleepy” Floyd on a free throw with 27.6 seconds remaining. He had a chance to break the record, set in 1987 against the Los Angeles Lakers, but missed his second foul shot.

Mitchell finished with 43 points, including 15 during Cleveland’s 24-0 run that went from the last 12 seconds of the first half to the first six minutes of the third quarter. Cleveland trailed 56-52 at halftime before taking control.

The 24-0 run was the longest in an NBA playoff game since since Minnesota also scored 24 straight in Game 6 of its Western Conference semifinal series against Denver in 2024. It was also the longest spurt by Cleveland in a postseason game since play-by-play stats were kept in 1997-98. The previous high was 19 in an Eastern semifinal series contest against Boston.

James Harden had his 40th playoff double-double with 24 points and 11 assists. Evan Mobley had 17 points, five blocked shots and three steals as Cleveland remained unbeaten at home in six playoff games.

Caris LeVert had a season high 24 points for Detroit. Cade Cunningham scored 19, the first time he has been held under 20 in 11 playoff games this season, and Tobias Harris added 16.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Detroit.

THUNDER 115, LAKERS 110

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Chet Holmgren made a tiebreaking dunk with 32.8 seconds to play, and Oklahoma City swept Los Angeles out of the second round of the NBA playoffs with a victory in Game 4.

Ajay Mitchell scored 10 of his 28 points in the frantic final period as the Thunder overcame the Lakers’ tenacious effort and improved to 8-0 in the playoffs with their toughest victory of the postseason.

LeBron James had 24 points and 14 rebounds in the final game of the unprecedented 23rd season for the top scorer in NBA history, but he missed a driving bank shot with 20 seconds left that would have put the Lakers ahead.

The 41-year-old James has repeatedly said he hasn’t decided whether to play next season, so there was no ceremony or momentousness around this game. Instead, the Lakers desperately tried to extend their year, only to lose to Oklahoma City for the eighth time this season.

Austin Reaves scored 27 points before missing a tying 3-point attempt with eight seconds left for the Lakers, who advanced one round farther than almost anybody expected after losing NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic and Reaves to significant injuries a month ago.

If this is indeed it for LeBron James, give him credit for one thing: he was unprecedented, even until the very end.

The Oklahoma City Thunder unceremoniously swept James’ Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, May 11 in the conference semifinal round in what might be the final game of James’ storied 23-year career. James has not revealed his future plans, but will turn 42 in December and has been more vulnerable recently about how basketball is affecting his body.

James also has nothing more to prove.

What he did this year had never been seen before. Not only did he start all 60 games he played during the regular season (adding 10 more in the postseason), he rewrote the standard for what’s possible for players 40 and older.

In the 46 games he played after turning 41 on Dec. 30, he averaged 21.1 points, 7.3 assists and 6.4 rebounds per contest. Compare that scoring figure with the next closest player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who averaged just 10.5 points per game after his 41^st birthday.

Take this postseason: even though the Lakers fell well short of their objectives, they were missing All-Star Luka Dončić. And for much of L.A.’s first-round series against the Rockets, Austin Reaves was out, too.

That meant that the Lakers' hopes instantly fell squarely on James, who responded by averaging 23.2 points in the playoffs. Simply put: there has been no other player in history to be so consistently reliable this this stage of a career.

Even in Monday night’s Game 4 loss, James chiseled away to a steady 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and 3 assists.

Frankly, that claim could be stretched to his entire career.

James has been available throughout his playing days at a near absurd level. Not only has he avoided major injury, his 61,030 regular season minutes are an all-time record and come out to 42.4 days.

He also entered Monday night with 12,405 playoff minutes, another all-time record.

FAN WEIGH IN: What to make of LeBron's tenure with Lakers

Forget the discussions about where James ranks compared with Jordan or Kobe or Kareem or Wilt because those conversations tend to be reductive and difficult to quantify.

What’s undeniable is that James has been the premier player of this generation — a 22-time All-Star and four-time Most Valuable Player who won four championships with three different teams. If this was his last game, he was an ambassador of the sport and he elevated the play of his teammates. He outworked his competition and stayed in peak physical condition. He stayed out of controversy and enriched the communities in which he played.

James did have his detractors, as all great players do. But if this was in fact his last game, appreciate the production and longevity. Appreciate the commitment to the sport. Because like Jordan, like Kobe, like Kareem and like Wilt, there will never be another LeBron James.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Reflecting on LeBron James' career after what might be his final game

On the brink of elimination, the Lakers went down swinging.

LA overcame its second-half woes and took OKC all the way to the final minute before losing late, 115-110, as the Thunder completed the sweep.

In the most hotly-contested game of the series, the two teams battled throughout the fourth quarter. The Lakers had the lead late on a Marcus Smart and-one layup, but the Thunder responded with the next five points to win the game.

Deandre Ayton started things offensively for LA with a tip-in layup off a missed shot by LeBron James. Lu Dort and Ajay Mitchell responded with a combined five points immediately after.

Rui Hachimura started cooking for Los Angeles with four points.

At the 6:42 mark, the Lakers were down by six. 

The Lakers surged with nine straight points to jump into the lead. Austin Reaves was now the leading scorer for LA with five points. Smart was the only starter who had yet to score. 

Los Angeles ended the first well with Reaves and LeBron combining for five points, helping give the team a five-point lead.

For the first time in this series, the Lakers have won the first quarter. They are up 26-21 over the Thunder. Austin Reaves is off to a great start. He has 8 points on perfect shooting.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) May 12, 2026

Alex Caruso opened the second period with back-to-back evil 3-pointers. Mitchell then converted on a layup, which forced the Lakers to call an early timeout as they saw their lead vanish. Out of the break, Caruso finally missed a triple. Unfortunately, LA was also missing shots.

The Thunder were up by five with 9:50 left.

Oklahoma City’s scoring run extended to 17-0 as Los Angeles tried to score, but couldn’t figure out any consistency with their offense. LeBron stopped some of the bleeding with two free throws. 

Jaxson Hayes ended the field goal drought by converting on a layup. The Lakers responded well, making it a four-point game at halftime, despite their shooting struggles. 

The Thunder lead the Lakers 49-45. LA went over half the second quarter without a field goal, which is how a five-point advantage has turned into a four-point deficit. The Lakers need a comeback in the second half to extend their season.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) May 12, 2026

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander converted on a midrange jumper to open the third period. Hachimura had the hot hand early for LA with seven points in the quarter. Mitchell had eight in the quarter already for the Thunder.

Cason Wallace drilled a triple that forced Los Angeles to call a timeout after yet another OKC run had the Lakers down 12.

Reaves now had six of LA’s 12 overall turnovers. Out of the break, LeBron converted on one of two free throws. Hachimura also knocked down a big-time 3-pointer. 

SGA was the only OKC player scoring; he was up to 23 for the night. LeBron drained two massive 3-pointers that helped keep Los Angeles within striking distance.

The purple and gold were down by five with 4:04 left in the quarter. 

LA went on a massive 14-5 run that turned the game in their favor. They added to that run to take the lead by one with 3:08 left.

Both teams then took turns leading. Hayes’ four points at the end of the third helped give Los Angeles a lead of four going into the fourth.

This was the first time in the series that they beat OKC in the third. 

Jaxson Hayes has provided a huge lift off the bench, with 16 points now on 5 of 6 FG's and 6 of 6 FT's.

His put-back with 0.6 to play in the 3rd Q gave the Lakers an 84-80 lead.

It's a 16-point turnaround from OKC's 66-54 lead at the 7:35 mark of the 3rd (a 30-14 push).

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 12, 2026

LeBron split a pair of free throws to open the scoring in the final frame. Jared McCain converted on a layup on the other end for Oklahoma City. Despite two from Mitchell, LeBron scored four points, helping keep LA in the lead by five. 

Out of a break, McC ain drained a triple.

Reaves launched a ridiculous 3-pointer over Caruso that kept Los Angeles up by five. SGA nailed two free throws that cut into the deficit for the Thunder. McCain knocked down yet another three that tied the game with 6:34 left. 

OKC went up by three after Mitchell completed a three-point play. Hachimura responded with his signature midrange shot on the other end. A back-and-forth battle was taking place over the final five minutes.

The teams took turns leading by one until a triple from SGA put the Thunder up four with 3:47 left. At the 2:13 mark, Oklahoma City was up by six. With 1:41 left, Hachimura completed a wild four-point play to make it a two-point game.

Smart was then fouled and completed a three-point play that put the Lakers up by one with 40 seconds left, capping off a 7-0 run. Chet Holmgren dunked on the next possession and put Oklahoma City up one with 32.8 seconds left. 

LeBron missed a floater with roughly 20 seconds left and, on the other end, SGA was fouled and converted on both free throws, giving the Thunder a three-point lead with 12.2 seconds left. 

Reaves had a nice look at a 3-pointer and unfortunately missed. With 7.6 seconds left, Mitchell was fouled and converted on both free throws, sealing the win for OKC.

Key Player Stats

LeBron finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Reaves added 27 points with seven rebounds and six assists. Hayes had 18 points off the bench.

Hachimura scored 25  points on 9-15 shooting. Ayton logged six points. Kennard pitched in with five points.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

As the Los Angeles Lakers were facing a possible sweep at the hands of Western Conference No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, one face in the crowd couldn't be happier to see it all unfold.

Dillon Brooks, the Phoenix Suns wing, enforcer, villain and LeBron James pest, was spotted sitting courtside at Crypto.com Arena with a smile on his face as the Lakers entered halftime trailing 49-45. The 30-year-old, fresh off getting swept against the Thunder in the first round, apparently couldn't help but get out to LA to watch his nemesis possibly meet the same fate in the second round.

Nah man Dillon Brooks a REAL VILLAIN

Bro showed up to Game 4 just to hatewatch LeBron I’M IN TEARS 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/noAnFRa7pS

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) May 12, 2026

Brooks and James have a history dating back to the first round of the 2023 playoffs, when he openly taunted the NBA's all-time leading scorer as the two exchanged verbal jabs in the media and got into a confrontation during Game 3, with Brooks later taking jabs at James' age.

"I don't care. He's old. You know what I mean?" Brooks, then with the Memphis Grizzlies, told reporters at the time. "I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that [in] Game 4, Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should have been saying that earlier on. But I poke bears. I don't respect no one until they come and give me 40."

After the Lakers took that series in six games, James took to Instagram.

"If you ever see me fighting in the forest with a Grizzly bear," James wrote in his caption. "HELP THE BEAR."

The two were at it again this past December, when Brooks told reporters that James "likes people that bow down. I don't bow down."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dillon Brooks sits courtside at Laker playoff game to spite LeBron

Ex-NBA player Desmond Mason was arrested in Oklahoma City on a felony warrant out of Texas late last week. 

Police in Oklahoma City arrested Mason on Thursday on a felony warrant for theft of property that stemmed from an incident that started back in spring 2025, according to multiple reports. 

Oklahoma City police arrested Mason in a downtown section of OKC known as Bricktown and he was taken to the Oklahoma County Detention Center, but before he was booked, he was transported to a local hospital to treat a medical issue, News9 in Oklahoma City reported. 

Mason was booked and listed as a flight risk. 

A couple from Collin County, Texas, filed a police report in January with the Melissa Police Department after they claimed they hired Mason in March 2025 to frame a piece of sports memorabilia, paying the 10-year NBA vet $9,822.86 to do so. 

The memorabilia and authentication documents were valued at roughly $40,000. 

Mason allegedly sent the couple proof he completed the job in April of that year and was going to deliver the finished product, but then cut off communication with them.

By January of this year, Mason was said to have begun re-engaging with the couple, trying to explain the delay.

The warrant for Mason’s arrest was issued in February. 

This is not the first time Mason has ended up in jail, having been thrown behind bars for contempt of court stemming from his divorce proceedings with his ex-wife Andrea Mason.

Mason spent 10 years in the NBA after he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2000 and became the first player in franchise history to win the NBA dunk contest during the 2000-01 season. 

He was traded to the Bucks in 2003, where he played until 2005, and was traded again to the New Orleans Hornets. 

Mason returned to the Bucks for a second stint ahead of the 2007-08 season and then played the 2008-09 season with the Thunder.

He appeared in just five games for the Kings in 2009 before he was waived in early November of the 2009-10 season.

The stars came out to Crypto.com Arena on Monday night to watch the Lakers fight to keep their season alive against the Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. 

Entering the game, OKC led the series 3-0 and a Lakers loss would not only end their season, it might also be the final time we see LeBron James in a Lakers’ uniform or any other uniform for that matter. 

Those takes alone were enough to bring out Hollywood royalty for one last game. 

Leonardo DiCaprio arrived quietly, dressed nearly identical to how he did in Game 3. He took his seat next to his “One Battle After Another” co-star Sean Penn and friend and fellow actor Kevin Connolly. 

A few seats away sat Eddie Murphy, dressed in all black with his shades on. 

Eddie Murphy in the house pic.twitter.com/l0MM9BYNbO

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 12, 2026

TV personality Shannon Sharpe was nearby, as was “Top Gun 2” star Miles Teller. 

Miles Teller catching Game 4 between the Thunder and Lakers pic.twitter.com/SgWIJHGyjC

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) May 12, 2026

Bu the celebrity row didn’t stop there.

Jessica Alba smiled and waved to nearby fans. Gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn, Tinashe, Andy Garcia, Usher, and rapper 21 Moneybagg Yo all enjoyed the courtside view as well. 

The sons of famous actors Jack Nicholson and Denzel Washington were also in attendance, with Ray Nicholson and John David Washington sitting in their famous fathers’ courtside seats. 

And because no major Lakers playoff game is complete without basketball royalty as well, Dwyane Wade, Robert Horry, and Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks, a villain among fans, were also in attendance. 

Dillon Brooks got a seat right under the basket for Game 4 of Lakers-Thunder pic.twitter.com/9bvf8F7Naf

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 12, 2026

Here’s the rest of the list of stars spotted at the game: Jeffrey Katzenberg, Adam Corolla, Jay Mohr, Dyan Cannon, Lukas Haas, James Goldstein, Lou Adler, Corey Gamble, and more.

In most cities, playoff basketball is just a game.

In Los Angeles, it’s theater.

---

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The Cleveland Cavaliers tied the series, beating the Detroit Pistons in Game 4.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

43 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover

Mitchell only scored 4 points in the first half. His first bucket came midway through the second quarter. He’d immediately break out of that shell to start the third quarter, scoring 8 points and forcing a Detroit timeout only 90 seconds into the second half.

The run didn’t stop there. The Cavs broke out into a Cavalanche-worthy 23-0 run, and Mitchell’s shot-making led the way. He poured it on until the Pistons finally rolled over, scoring an NBA record 39 points in the second half for one of his best performances to date. Maybe even his best.

Grade: A+++

James Harden

24 points, 11 assists, 4 steals, 2 turnovers

Harden put the Cavs in front early with his scoring, nailing a pair of triples and netting 11 of Cleveland’s first 14 points.

He’d continue to elevate the offense, recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists by the four-minute mark of the third quarter. The Beard was in full control tonight.

Grade: A+

Evan Mobley

17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 5 blocks

Mobley isn’t an elite offensive hub, but he’s better than he gets credit for. He’s done a fine job of converting his opportunities in this series, scoring at an efficient rate when handling in the pick-and-roll and creating for others.

“Donovan’s gonna get all the flowers tonight, but Evan deserves just as many,” said Kenny Atkinson. “It seemed like he was swatting everything, maybe the best I’ve seen him defensively, and that’s saying something,”

Evan Mobley is the first EC player since Michael Jordan with

5+ assists
3+ steals
5+ blocks

in a playoff game. pic.twitter.com/Vau3L20mkv

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 12, 2026

On the other side of the floor, he’s played a role in shutting down Jalen Duren and crushing the Pistons in the paint. Eight stocks speak for themselves. Mobley was everywhere, and Detroit had no solution.

Grade: A+

Jarrett Allen

9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks

Rocket Arena was chanting ‘Jarrett Allen’ during the 23-0 Cavalanche. That happened just moments before Allen crushed a two-handed dunk. I’m not sure if life gets any better than that.

Good vibes aside, Allen has handled all of the physicality thrown at him this series. He’s battled with Duren and come out victorious more often than not. If he continues to meet the moment, this will be a narrative-reversing postseason for Allen (if it isn’t already).

Grade: A-

Dean Wade

0 points, 5 rebounds

Wade, to some chagrin, stayed in the starting lineup tonight. And for the first time in this series, that lineup won its opening minutes. This was mainly because of Harden, but it was an important stretch that has defined the first few games of this matchup. Wade is valuable when the Cavaliers’ offense is able to withstand him being on the floor.

“I thought Wade took his defense to another level,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.

Grade: B-

Max Strus

5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Strus has forced some of the most impactful turnovers I can recall in this series. His Game 3 heroics speak for themselves, but tonight, he forced an eight-second violation on Cade Cunningham at a pivotal junction of the night. His intensity has helped the Cavs form an identity that’s worthy of standing the tests of a difficult playoff series.

Grade: B+

Jaylon Tyson

1 point, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Tyson only played 8 minutes as this just wasn’t his night. He’s struggled to find his range as a three-point shooter in the playoffs and will need to rediscover his touch before earning any more minutes.

Grade: D

Dennis Schroder

7 points, 2 rebounds

Schroder finished as a minus-15. But this is why we always say plus/minus can be wonky. Schroder felt much more impactful, at least to me. His bursts to the rim remain helpful, and he shot 3-4 from the floor.

Grade: C+

Sam Merrill

6 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound

Merrill nailed his first two three-point attempts and had Rocket Arena going crazy. He went 0-6 from the floor the rest of the way.

Still, Merrill’s off-ball activity opens gaps for the Cavs offense to attack. He’s a positive for this reason.

Grade: C+

Donovan Mitchell seemed to disappear in the first half Monday, May 11 as the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of the conference semifinals.

Then the seven-time All-Star completely took over in the second half with an explosive scoring display to propel the Cavaliers to a 112-103 victory, tying the series 2-2.

Mitchel scored 39 points in the second half to tie the all-time NBA playoff record for most points in a half. The Golden State Warriors’ Eric "Sleepy" Floyd set the record on May 10, 1987, against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mitchell could not find the basket in the first half, shooting just 1-for-8 and tallying just four points as the Pistons took a 56-52 lead into the locker room. But the guard nicknamed “Spida” emerged as an entirely different player after the break.

SPIDA SCORED 39 OF HIS 43 POINTS IN THE 2ND HALF 🤯

IT'S THE MOST POINTS IN ANY HALF IN A POSTSEASON GAME IN THE PLAY-BY-PLAY ERA!

CAVS WIN GAME 4 TO EVEN THE SERIES AT 2-2 IN THE EAST SEMIS 🍿 pic.twitter.com/0ZUmxWGRQu

— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2026

Mitchell went from couldn’t make to couldn’t miss in the third quarter. He scored 21 points in the period, making 8-of-9 field goals, draining two of three 3-pointers and knocking down all three of his free throw attempts.

His scoring tear continued in the fourth with 18 points, shooting 4-of-9 from the field (1-for-4 on 3-pointers) and hitting 9 of 10 free throws.

Mitchell said he apologized to his team at halftime for his low output and his decision-making.

“I set the tone in Game 3 (a 116-109 Cleveland win), came downhill in transition, and I don’t think I did that one time in the first half. So, I came in and told the guys, ‘That’s on me.’ So, I tried to make a statement in the second half.”

Cleveland began the third period on a 23-0 run, largely spurred by Mitchell, but he credited the game plan and the team for the second-half surge.

“Just continue to play together and continue to move the ball, so that’s where it starts. I was also able to get into the paint. We did a great job of getting everybody involved in the second half.”

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donovan Mitchell leads Cavaliers past Pistons, ties NBA playoff record

LOS ANGELES — Clara Massey stood behind her walker and methodically moved in front of Crypto.com Arena after trekking from her nearby apartment. She was wearing a purple Los Angeles Lakers jersey, a purple Lakers cap and sunglasses with yellow frames (or, as any self-respecting Lakers fans would point out, Lakers gold.)

“I just come down, walk around and get the good energy and give the good energy,’’ Massey told USA TODAY Sports.

That pregame energy was mostly pro-LeBron James with the Lakers on the verge of elimination from the playoffs on Monday, May 11 and Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder potentially being James’ last with the Lakers, if not the NBA altogether.

As tipoff grew closer, the moment prompted the following question: Has James' time with the Lakers been a failure?

Despite the fact James led the Lakers to a championship – the 17^th in franchise history in 2020 that culminated in the NBA bubble in Walt Disney World in Florida. Despite the fact he became the NBA's all-time leading scorer in front of Lakers fans when he overtook Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite the dunks, the 3-pointers and, well, more than a few turnovers.

“I think he did a lot,’’ Massey said. “Won a championship. And he’s still contributing. He’s a pretty strong force.’’

Massey’s fondness for James goes beyond his on-court accomplishments in Los Angeles.

“I think he’s a great basketball player, a great figure in sports,’’ she said, reflecting on the time LeBron James and Bronny spent on the court together during the Lakers first-round series against the Houston Rockets.

“Did someone else do that for their child?’’ she said. “I bet if he could he would teach the world basketball.’’

Higher expectations

Four young men wearing Kobe Bryant jerseys and t-shirts surely would offer a tougher assessment.

“If LeBron can win another championship here, he deserves a statue,’’ Matthew Dominguez of Sylmar, California, said, of the statues outside Crypto.com Arena reserved for Laker greats like Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “I think he knew what we expected. But we’re so grateful. He doesn’t deserve all the hate.’’

In fact, Dominguez said he hopes the Lakers keep James. That James could be key to the team winning another NBA title, something the fans like Dominguez are craving.

“And if he doesn’t do it for us, do it for Bronny,’’ Dominguez.

'No small feat'

Aiden Rivas, wearing a No. 6 jersey with James on the back, was standing in line outside Crypto.com Arena more than an hour before the doors opened. Speaking of which, Lakers fans might not have been so open to James’ coming to the Lakers, according to Rivas.

They feared Los Angeles might just be another stop as he jumped from one team to another. They assumed he was here to live in Los Angeles more than play for the Lakers.

Those concerns receded, Rivas, 20, told USA TODAY Sports.

“He brought us a ring, and that’s no small feat,’’ Rivas said. “Overall, I think he did a great job of getting us to the playoffs almost every year. That’s huge.

“I remember the times we couldn’t make it to the playoffs and we had Jordan Clarkson.’’

Sorry, Jordan.

Siblings perspective

Jesse and Lizbeth Medina, siblings who live in Los Angeles, sat outside Crypto.com Arena.

Jesse Medina, 25, said of James, “I think LeBron was good for PR, good for fan engagement but Luka (Doncic) will transform the team.’’

Lizabeth Medina, wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey, said of James' time here, “I was expecting another championship.’’

But she sounded optimistic it’ll happen.

With Doncic, not James, leading the Lakers.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James' Lakers tenure may be coming to an end. Was it a failure?

Playoff basketball rolls on without the Phoenix Suns. That doesn’t mean they aren’t watching. In some cases, they’re getting quite the view.

The Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Monday night, and a familiar face was sitting in the crowd. Thunder guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort share something in common with Suns forward Dillon Brooks, as all three are members of Team Canada. So, in a game in which SGA and Dort could potentially clinch their second consecutive trip to the Western Conference Finals, it wasn’t surprising to see their national teammate Dillon Brooks sitting baseline at Crypto.com Arena taking in the game.

Dillon Brooks got front row seats to hate watch LeBron 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/UkadcrPwrH

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) May 12, 2026

What made it even more entertaining is Brooks’ ongoing rivalry with LeBron James. The two have had plenty of run-ins over the years, some dating back to Brooks’ time with the Memphis Grizzlies, others happening this past season with Phoenix. When the Amazon Prime broadcast cut to Brooks sitting courtside, iced out in jewelry as LeBron stood at the free throw line, it felt very on brand.

And knowing Brooks, there were probably a few comments exchanged as he rooted for his friends to take down the Lakers.

Dillon Brooks is extension-eligible this upcoming offseason, and it’ll be interesting to see which direction the Phoenix Suns choose to go. Do they get ahead of it now and lock him up early? Or do they wait until next summer, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent and revisit it then?

He was a major part of the identity and culture shift Phoenix experienced this past season, and that carries real value. The question is how much value the organization places on it financially. Until then, it’s nice to see Brooks enjoying the offseason and continuing the Suns tradition of rooting against the Los Angeles Lakers.

---

The Cleveland Cavaliers ran the Pistons back to Detroit, tying the series at 2-2 behind a huge second half.

Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.

WINNER – Third Quarter CAVALANCHE

An aspect of this era of Cavalier basketball is that no matter how a game is trending, one four-minute stretch can change everything. While that’s true for both the good and bad — the Cavalanche has earned its name for a reason.

Detroit rolled into halftime feeling pretty good. They had weathered an early storm and controlled the rest of the half behind their defense. They ended the second quarter with a 56-52 lead.

Four minutes into the third quarter, the Pistons still had 56 points, while the Cavs had jumped to 75. That’s a 23-0 run led by Donovan Mitchell, who scored 15 points during that sequence. Rocket Arena turned into a madhouse, and a full-throated ‘Jarrett Allen’ chant capped off the run.

It just takes a couple thousand people yelling Jarrett Allen’s name for him to dunk it. pic.twitter.com/zs3796KVfF

— Jackson Flickinger (@JacksFlickinger) May 12, 2026

This type of heavyweight punch is what makes it hard to count the Cavs out.

WINNER – First Quarter Harden

You can’t ask for a much better start than that.

Cleveland lost both games in Detroit largely because of their slow starts. James Harden made sure that no matter what happened tonight, the Cavs wouldn’t leave with that same feeling.

Harden opened the game on fire. He scored 11 points in the first four minutes, banging three-pointers and even racking up two steals during that stretch. The Cavs defense was successful early on, and Harden surprisingly played a key role in setting that tone.

Sadly, that hot start didn’t spread to the rest of the team (or the rest of the quarter). Cleveland went cold once Harden went to the bench, somehow shooting just 30% from the floor and ending the quarter down by three points.

LOSER – The Caris LeVert Wheel

Cavs fans will be familiar with this. But in case you’re not, the ‘LeVert Wheel’ refers to the idea that on any given night, LeVert will play like any number of former players. For instance, sometimes he’s Michael Jordan, other times he’s closer to Alonzo Gee.

The wheel landed on Jordan tonight.

LeVert had confidence early. His first few jumpers hardly even touched the net. Shot after shot went through the basket as LeVert worked his way to 17 points on 7-12 shooting in the first half. All the while, he gave Donovan Mitchell fits defensively and forced several turnovers on various Cavs drives, including one where he stripped the ball out of bounds off Evan Mobley’s knee.

That type of support from a role player can be enough to steal a game on the road.

WINNER – Donovan Mitchell

We’ve already talked a bit about Mitchell. But he took so many lumps throughout the first round, I think it’s worth focusing on him one more time.

This whole thing was built around Mitchell.

Maybe not originally. The Cavs probably thought that Mobley would have been their best player by now when they first traded for Mitchell. But as Mitchell blossomed into a legit First-Team All-NBA player, and Mobley’s development crawled at a slower pace than expected, it became clear who was the centerpiece of this team.

The Harden trade cemented that. No more two-timelines. Only one. And that would be Mitchell’s.

With all this in mind, it was alarming to see Mitchell struggle to start this postseason. No version of the Cavs competes for a title without a superstar leader in Mitchell. His inefficient scoring and questionable decision-making were a significant concern.

That’s starting to change.

Mitchell found life in Game 2. He carried that over for a monstrous 35 points in Game 3. Then, after a slow start to Game 4, he broke free for 21 points in the third quarter, matching LeBron James and Kyrie Irving for the highest scoring quarter in franchise history. Reminding us of why this team has the expectations it does, in the first place.

“To turn it around the way he did, I’m not sure I’ve seen something like that in the playoffs,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.

A whopping 39 points in the second half tied an NBA record and brought Mitchell’s total to 43 for the night. It’s his eighth playoff game of 40+ points and his fourth as a Cavalier. His best performances give Cleveland a punch it can’t get anywhere else on the roster.