Thunder Complete Sweep of Lakers, Advance to Western Conference Finals.

LOS ANGELES — The Oklahoma City Thunder are headed to the Western Conference finals after surviving their toughest playoff challenge yet. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, while Chet Holmgren delivered the game’s biggest play with a go-ahead dunk in the final minute as the Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 in Game 4 on Monday night, completing a second-round sweep. Oklahoma City improved to 8-0 this postseason, though the Lakers pushed the top-seeded Thunder harder than any opponent so far. Ajay Mitchell sparked the fourth quarter with 10 of his 28 points during a tense closing stretch as the Thunder erased multiple late deficits. “We’ve handled business up to this point,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the win. “We’ve played at a high level against really good teams, but nothing is guaranteed moving forward.” The Lakers had chances late to extend the series. LeBron James finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds, but his driving bank attempt with 20 seconds remaining rolled off the rim after Holmgren’s clutch basket had put Oklahoma City ahead. Following the game, James again declined to commit to playing another NBA season. “I don’t know what the future holds right now,” the 41-year-old said. “I’ll take time with my family and figure things out from there.” Austin Reaves added 27 points for Los Angeles, but missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds. Rui Hachimura scored 25 points, including several key baskets in the fourth quarter that briefly lifted the Lakers in front.

Despite entering the postseason with modest expectations after injuries sidelined Luka Doncic and Reaves late in the year, Los Angeles managed to win a playoff series before running into the relentless Thunder. The Lakers ultimately dropped six of their final seven postseason games and have now missed the conference finals in three consecutive seasons.

“I didn’t want this season to end,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “This group fought all year, and I loved coaching them.” The game featured several momentum swings in the closing minutes. Holmgren first threw down a dunk with just over two minutes left to extend Oklahoma City’s lead to six, but Hachimura answered with a four-point play. Marcus Smart followed with a driving layup and free throw to briefly give Los Angeles a 110-109 advantage.

Holmgren responded moments later with another emphatic dunk after gathering himself in traffic, putting the Thunder back in front for good with 32.8 seconds remaining.

Gilgeous-Alexander sealed the victory at the foul line after James missed his final drive to the basket and Reaves failed to connect from beyond the arc. The Thunder swept all eight meetings against the Lakers this season, including four regular-season victories, but needed every possession Monday night to close the series. Oklahoma City now awaits the winner of the second-round matchup between San Antonio and Minnesota, which is tied heading into Game 5. Meanwhile, Doncic watched from the bench as he continued recovering from the grade 2 hamstring strain suffered April 2 in Oklahoma City. The injury forced the Slovenian star to miss the Lakers’ final 15 games of the season and prevented any realistic chance of a playoff return.