The Thunder secured a crucial victory, with DeGnott praising the players' commitment and fighting spirit.

With scoring from Ajay Mitchell, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Chet Holmgren, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 131-108 on the road in the third round of the 2025/26 NBA playoffs semifinals, extending their lead to 3-0. This crucial victory puts the Oklahoma City Thunder one step closer to the Finals.

According to the data, Ajay Mitchell scored 24 points and 10 assists for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points and 9 assists, while Chet Holmgren contributed 18 points and one assist in this key game.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach DeGnott said, "I think we have to give credit to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half. They put us on the back foot at times. They shot extremely well, going 55% from three-point range in the first half and grabbing seven offensive rebounds. We were actually lucky to finish the first half down by only two points."

“Sometimes the team feels that the game will naturally change. But we must understand that we are the ones who change the game, and that’s exactly what we did. We improved our defense, became tougher on the boards, maintained our rhythm on offense, and played a very good second half.”

When discussing the flexibility of the roster, Degnot said, "It's a happy problem. I trust everyone, and what makes it easier is the players' commitment to the team and their willingness to embrace the team's overall philosophy."

"The players were always ready to go out there and genuinely happy for each other's achievements. When Ajay Mitchell came on in the fourth quarter, Isaiah Joe was still giving me suggestions on plays that suited him. In fact, Isaiah Joe didn't play much in the second half. Isaiah Joe was rotated out in this game, and I didn't use Ajay Mitchell in the fourth quarter, but their energy and support for each other never diminished, which was really special."

Degnot also said, "Ajay Mitchell is a very eager person to improve, and also very humble, so he will continue to grow and learn from all his experiences. He played exceptionally well, and it was a fantastic game, especially in the second half."

“Ajay Mitchell passed the ball to Hartenstein in the first leg, and he continues to make the right choices. He adapts to the situation of the game, but at the same time, he maintains an impressive level of aggression and confidence.”

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