Lu Dort's Hot Start Headlines Takeaways In The Thunder's Dominant Win Over The Lakers

This might have been a top West matchup, but it didn’t feel like it.

The Thunder never had an issue in this bout, as they destroyed the Lakers 139-96. The OKC backcourt led the way as five Thunder guards scored in double-digits, including Isaiah Joe with 20.

The Thunder continue to hold on to their top spot in the West, and if they end the regular season like this, they will keep that spot for the postseason.

Here are three takeaways from the Thunder’s dominant win over the Lakers.

Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) shoots a three point basket as Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) defends during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

1. Electric start from Dort

The Thunder started cooking from the very beginning, and it was largely thanks to Lu Dort. The Thunder guard didn’t miss a shot the whole first quarter, hitting all five shots he took, with four of them being from beyond the arc.

Dort ended the quarter with 14 points and was active on the defensive side with two steals. This hot start from Dort helped OKC jump out to a 20-point lead at the end of the first. Dort would end the game without scoring another point, but his initial impact was still felt.

OKC has wanted to see this type of performance all year, and with the playoffs approaching, they hope he can perform just like he did at the beginning of Thursday night’s bout, but they also hope he can get to the point where he plays like it the whole game.

Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (12) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

2. The MVP is making his case

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again put his case for the Most Valuable Player award on display. The reigning MVP had 21 points at halftime and led OKC to score 82 points in the first half as a team.

Gilgeous-Alexander would end the game with 28 points, shooting 48%, and would add seven assists to his resume for the night. There have been talks about the MVP race being a toss-up between Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, but tonight was another example of why there should be no question of who that award goes to.

Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

3. Utter domination from the top West seed

From the opening tip, it was clear that this game was not going to be a contest. The Lakers didn’t lead the Thunder once in this game, and this game seemed over by the end of the first quarter.

The Thunder’s largest lead in this bout was 46, and the Thunder stars didn’t see the court in the fourth quarter. L.A. isn’t a bad team, as they are currently ranked third in the West, but they just aren’t on the level of OKC.

Oklahoma City has proved once again that it’s in a league of its own, and hopes to continue this with the postseason approaching.