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Oklahoma City’s Big Three Asserts Itself in Game 2 Victory

Published

2 years ago

April 25, 2024

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Oklahoma City’s Big Three Asserts Itself in Game 2 Victory

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s big three is the antithesis of Kendrick Lamar’s latest hit, “Like That.”

“F— the big three … it’s just big me.”

Lamar might be firing shots at two of his biggest peers in the rap game in Drake and J. Cole, but Oklahoma City’s trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams is simultaneously coming together at its strongest as the NBA playoffs roll on.

Gilgeous-Alexander is obviously an MVP candidate that is leading the wave of success the Thunder is currently experiencing, but as Holmgren alluded to following its 32-point win in Game 2 over the New Orleans Pelicans, the 25-year-old is “too humble to say it.” Nobody in the Oklahoma City locker room is trying to one-up each other or prove they’re the best, it’s just a tight-knit group of mostly young talent trying to compete for the same prize — an NBA Championship.

Last night was a step forward in proving that, as the Thunder took a 2-0 lead in the series off the backs of its leading trio’s combined 80 points of a total of 124. They were dominant throughout the entire game, scoring the ball at an extremely efficient rate and granting a strong defensive effort. The Pelicans stood little to no chance at stopping them, making Oklahoma City all the more confident for an eventual series win.

Game 1 didn’t treat Gilgeous-Alexander as kindly as expected, but he proved why he is at the forefront of a tight race for the MVP award. The guard put up 33 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals on ridiculous 13-of-19 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. He only needed four free throws to reach that number, instead flexing his scoring muscles outside of the paint.

That performance was Gilgeous-Alexander’s true statement to the league on the playoff stage that he should be considered one of the best players in the world. He’s the vessel that drives the Thunder to the high levels it reaches, but even so, he needs his co-stars to be there for him.

Holmgren had an impressive playoff debut on Sunday, but Game 2 was an even better outing for the rookie. He dropped 26 points, seven rebounds and two blocks on 9-of-13 shooting, three of which came from behind the arc. Although his frame had been questioned against a bigger center in Jonas Valanciunas, bigger doesn’t always mean better.

The 21-year-old through two games has a +/- of +30, completely blowing Valanciunas’ -16 out of the water. Oklahoma City is considerably winning the battle inside the paint, even if the counting stats haven’t truly showed it.

Last but not least, J-Dub. The man who has convinced fans to bark with him tore it up last night, recording 21 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a steal on 10-of-17 shooting. His offense was great, but he also showed his two-way ability by putting the clamps on C.J. McCollum during a brilliant defensive play in the first half.

Williams is serving as a hype man of sorts, upping the energy of the home crowd with his entertaining brand of basketball and funny mannerisms. But it’s not all jokes, the 22-year-old is a legitimate star in the making that can be the Thunder’s primary scoring option if needed. It doesn’t have many shot creators, but he can help alleviate the pressures Gilgeous-Alexander faces.

If Oklahoma City having a big three or not was ever questioned, Game 2 certainly put that idea to rest. Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and Williams are here to win, and you can forget age being a factor in preventing that from happening now. They make for one of the best trios in the playoffs no matter their age, and so far, inexperience doesn’t seem to be affecting them from having success.

New Orleans will have to respond to the big three in Game 3, or else it might be deleted from the series faster than “7 Minute Drill.”

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How to watch LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder: TV, live stream info for tonight’s NBA playoff game

Published

2 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Press Room

How to watch LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder: TV, live stream info for tonight’s NBA playoff game

Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues tonight on NBC and Peacock with a star-studded doubleheader. The action tips off at 7:00 PM ET, when Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers take on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. Then, at 8:30 PM ET, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers go head-to-head with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Peacock. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Game Preview:

The No. 4 Lakers defeated the No. 5 Rockets in six games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. Los Angeles opened the series with a 3-0 lead, dropped Games 4 and 5, then bounced back with a 98-78 road win in Game 6. The win marked JJ Redick’s first playoff series victory since he took over as head coach ahead of last season.

Meanwhile, the top-seeded Thunder defeated the No. 8 Phoenix Suns 4-0, completing a First Round sweep for the third straight season. The Thunder look to become the first team to win consecutive NBA titles since the Golden State Warriors (2016-2017, 2017-18).

The Lakers and Thunder will both be without key players tonight. Luka Doncic has missed the last 11 games due to a grade 2 hamstring strain sustained on April 2 against Oklahoma City, while Jalen Williams missed the last two games for the Thunder with a grade 1 hamstring strain. Both players are considered week-to-week.

NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks

2026 NBA Playoffs: Bracket, schedule, scores, matchups for conference semifinals, including 76ers vs. Knicks

All the games — times, dates, where to watch — in one easy-to-check-out location.

How to watch LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder:

When: Tonight, Tuesday, May 5
Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series preview, predictions – Do LeBron, Lakers have a chance?

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 1 NBA Playoffs – predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 5

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock

Timberwolves steal Game 1 on road from Spurs

Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?

Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.

Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?

Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.

Brunson powers Knicks past 76ers in Game 1

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Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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This Day in Oklahoma History: F.D. Moon born in 1896

Published

14 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Press Room

This Day in Oklahoma History: F.D. Moon born in 1896

OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) – African American educator F.D. Moon was born 130 years ago on May 4, 1896, in what is now Lincoln County.

He began teaching in 1921 and in 1940 moved to Oklahoma City, where he became principal of Douglass High School.

Widely known as the “Dean” of African American education, Moon was elected to the Oklahoma City Board of Education in 1972, then became its first African American president in 1974.

He served during federally mandated desegregation in Oklahoma City Public Schools and died in 1975.

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Oklahoma AG urges agency to let states regulate sports prediction markets

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma AG urges agency to let states regulate sports prediction markets

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is pressing federal regulators to make clear that states — not the federal government — have authority over sports-related prediction markets, arguing the platforms function like sportsbooks without state oversight.

Drummond and 40 other state attorneys general filed a formal comment Thursday with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, urging the agency to reaffirm that it does not have jurisdiction over sports-related contracts offered through prediction markets. The coalition said prediction markets have effectively become unregulated sportsbooks.

Prediction markets, including Kalshi and Polymarket, allow users to trade contracts tied to the outcome of future events. Drummond said sports-related contracts on those platforms amount to gambling and should be regulated by states.

“This is unequivocally gambling, which means it belongs under State authority,” Drummond said. “States have long had the right and responsibility to protect their own citizens from the dangers of gambling, and that should continue to hold true whether bets take place on a prediction market or inside a traditional casino.”

In their letter, the attorneys general said users can make the same types of wagers on prediction markets as they can at traditional sportsbooks. “Any distinction between sportsbook bets and prediction-market bets is illusory,” they wrote.

The coalition said prediction market users can wager on game winners, point spreads and player statistics, while bypassing consumer protections and tax requirements mandated by state gambling laws. The attorneys general argued the contracts are entertainment-based gambling rather than tools for financial risk management, placing them outside the CFTC’s jurisdiction.

The attorneys general also warned that sports gambling poses risks to public health and financial security.

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They said states are best positioned to protect residents from those harms and asked the CFTC to confirm through rulemaking that it lacks jurisdiction over sports-related contracts, leaving states with the power to regulate or prohibit sports gambling.

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