OKLAHOMA CITY –
The Oklahoma City Thunder begin a crucial stretch run Tuesday night in Los Angeles with a chance to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Oklahoma City needs just two wins in its final four games to secure the top spot, with the homestretch starting with a back-to-back against the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.
How to Watch
Matchup: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Lakers
Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Time: 9:30 p.m. CT
Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
TV: FanDuel Sports Oklahoma
Thunder rolling into postseason
The Thunder enter the matchup playing their best basketball of the season.
Oklahoma City lost just once in March and remains unbeaten in April, building momentum at the right time as the playoffs approach.
Jalen Williams is out, which means that Oklahoma City’s preferred five — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Luguentz Dort, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, have started just nine games together this season.
Chet Holmgren stepping up
Head coach Mark Daigneault pointed to Chet Holmgren’s recent performance as a sign of the team’s growth.
“He had a very fundamental game,” Daigneault said. “He ran the floor really well and finished those plays. He spaced well both around the basket and on the perimeter. He took his catch and shoots. He played quickly off the catch.”
Daigneault added that Holmgren’s production came from doing the basics well.
“Most of that came on the vegetables and the meat. Not a lot of dessert.”
Injury update
The Thunder will be without Jalen Williams for Tuesday’s game after he was downgraded to out. The Lakers will be without its stars due to injury; LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart.
The Thunder are favored by 18.5 points tonight. The Thunder played the Lakers on Thursday at Paycom Center and won in blowout fashion, 139-96. In that game, Doncic left early with a Grade 2 hamstring injury, and Reaves suffered an oblique injury. Both are out for the rest of the regular season and potentially for the start of the playoffs. Doncic traveled to Spain for treatment, reports say.
Playoff positioning
Western Conference Standings
Thunder (62-16)Spurs (60-19)Nuggets (51-28)Lakers (50-28)Rockets (49-29)Timberwolves (46-32)
What’s ahead
After facing the Lakers, Oklahoma City will stay in Los Angeles for a Wednesday matchup against the Clippers before traveling to Denver for its final road game of the regular season.
The Thunder will close the season at home against Phoenix.
With the No. 1 seed within reach, every game carries playoff-level importance.