Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 1 Preview, Picks & Odds for Tuesday, May 5, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | May 05, 2026, 10:47am

Game 1 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder begins at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC. Luka Dončić and Jalen Williams remain sidelined for Game 1, although Williams may be on the verge of returning.

Lakers vs. Thunder Betting Analysis

The Lakers were significant underdogs against the Rockets because of injuries to Dončić and Austin Reaves, yet they won the series in six games. Kevin Durant’s injury obviously helped, but Los Angeles simply outplayed Houston.

LeBron James turned back the clock and averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game as the primary option. Reaves’ return in Game 5 helped alleviate James’ creation burden, but he shot 36.7% from the field. Reaves has to shake off the rust and score efficiently against Oklahoma City.

Speaking of the Thunder, they swept their first-round opponent for the third season in a row. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33.8 points per game on 55.1% shooting from the field, and his Game 3 was an all-time performance. Chet Holmgren added 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game along with his usual stellar defense.

But Jalen Williams was the biggest takeaway for the Thunder. He averaged 28.4 points per 36 minutes on 70.5% true shooting and wreaked havoc as a defender before straining his hamstring in Game 3. The former All-Star finally looked healthy and dominant after an injury-riddled season. If Williams manages to stay healthy and rediscover his first-round form, then the Thunder could breeze through the playoffs.

The best bet for Game 1 is taking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to record at least eight assists. Los Angeles must aggressively shade off shooters and collapse the paint when Gilgeous-Alexander initiates actions because the alternative is watching the reigning MVP fry them on layups and jumpers. As a result, look for Gilgeous-Alexander to be very active as a playmaker throughout this series. He totaled 24 assists across 87 minutes against the Lakers during the regular season, which is equivalent to eight assists per 29 minutes.

Lakers vs. Thunder Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander O7.5 Assists (+112)
Score Prediction: Thunder 120, Lakers 101

Lakers vs. Thunder Game Odds

Lakers vs. Thunder Game Information

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Network: NBC
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Venue: Paycom Center – 226 ppg; 23-20 O/U
Series Score: Tied 0-0

Lakers vs. Thunder Betting Resources

Lakers vs. Thunder Key Players

Lakers

LeBron James – Last Game: 28 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists
Austin Reaves – Last Game: 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Rui Hachimura – Last Game: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Last Game: 31 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists
Chet Holmgren – Last Game: 24 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists
Ajay Mitchell – Last Game: 22 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists

Braxton Reynolds

Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.