The NBA playoffs continued on Tuesday with two pivotal Game 4 matchups in the quarterfinals. The Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champions, delivered a dominant performance to eliminate the Los Angeles Lakers with a 4-0 sweep, while the Cleveland Cavaliers fought back to tie their series against the Detroit Pistons at 2-2.
Quarterfinal Results
– New York Knicks 4-0 Philadelphia 76ers
– San Antonio Spurs 2-2 Minnesota Timberwolves
– Detroit Pistons 2-2 Cleveland Cavaliers
– Oklahoma City Thunder 4-0 Los Angeles Lakers
With the Thunder and Knicks securing their spots, the remaining two series are now deadlocked. Both the Spurs-Timberwolves and Pistons-Cavaliers battles are tied, setting up potential Game 7 drama.
Thunder 115-110 Lakers
Oklahoma City started strong, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Donovan Mitchell pushing to a 14-8 lead. Austin Reaves and LeBron James responded, helping the Lakers take a 24-21 edge after the first quarter. In the second, Alex Caruso nailed consecutive three-pointers, and Gilgeous-Alexander took over to spark a Thunder rally, building a 38-26 advantage. The Lakers chipped away, narrowing the halftime deficit to 49-45.
The third quarter saw Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell continue to dominate, extending the lead to 68-58. But James and Jaxson Hayes led a Lakers surge, closing the period with an 84-80 advantage. In the final frame, Mitchell and Chet Holmgren regained control for Oklahoma City, going up 109-103. Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart combined for seven straight points to briefly flip the score, but the Thunder held firm in crunch time.
The Thunder completed the sweep, advancing to the conference semifinals. Oklahoma City has been a powerhouse this season, carrying over their championship-level performance and sweeping both series so far. Their depth and balance make them strong contenders to repeat as champions.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points and 8 assists, Holmgren had 16 points and 9 rebounds, and Mitchell added 28 points. The Lakers’ season ends here: LeBron James posted a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough. Reaves scored 27, and Hachimura chipped in 25.
Pistons 103-112 Cavaliers
Cleveland jumped out to a 16-5 lead in the opening minutes, but Detroit’s Tobias Harris led a comeback to take a 19-18 edge. Caris LeVert and Cade Cunningham traded baskets, and the Pistons led 24-21 after one. The second quarter featured high-intensity offense from both sides. The Cavaliers surged ahead 35-33, but Detroit answered with a strong run to go up 56-52 at halftime.
Donovan Mitchell erupted in the third quarter, attacking inside and out, and the Cavs regained command. James Harden and Jarrett Allen kept the momentum going, pushing the lead to 90-77. Mitchell stayed hot in the fourth, and Cleveland stretched the advantage to 99-79. Cunningham led a late Pistons push, but the deficit proved too large.
Now the series is tied 2-2, setting up a tense finish. Both teams have already been through Game 7 battles in the first round—Detroit beat Orlando, while Cleveland eliminated Toronto. If this series goes the distance, the rested Knicks, who swept the 76ers, will be watching with great interest.
Mitchell was the star for Cleveland, dropping 43 points and adding 5 rebounds. Harden contributed 24 points and 11 assists, while Evan Mobley posted 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. For the Pistons, LeVert scored 24, Cunningham had 19, and Harris recorded 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.
