Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game 3 Preview, Picks & Odds for Saturday, May 9, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | May 08, 2026, 7:35pm

Game 3 between the Oklahoma City Thunder (2-0) and Los Angeles Lakers (0-2) is set for 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC. Luka Dončić and Jalen Williams remain sidelined, while Jarred Vanderbilt is questionable to play after dislocating his pinky in Game 1.

No team has ever come back from down 3-0 in the series, so it’s a must-win game for the Lakers.

Thunder vs. Lakers Betting Analysis

The Thunder won Game 2 by 18 points mainly because they were +13 during the 21 minutes without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He rode the bench for nearly half the game because he committed his fourth foul in the early third quarter.

Ajay Mitchell and Chet Holmgren were dominant forces, as Los Angeles could not keep them outside of the paint. Trade deadline acquisition Jared McCain also scored 18 points off the bench and made four triples. If Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates continue to play at this level, then there is not much the Lakers can do because they have to keep doubling the reigning MVP.

On the bright side, Austin Reaves bounced back after a rough Game 1. He scored 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and also dished out six assists. However, Reaves had five turnovers, and the Lakers as a team committed 20 turnovers. They cannot afford to give the Thunder extra possessions to this extent.

Meanwhile, Marcus Smart’s defense and passing have been great, but the veteran has only made eight of his 28 field goal attempts (28.6%). Los Angeles needs him to start making shots in order to keep pace with Oklahoma City’s offense.

There are two best bets for Game 3. The first is taking Jared McCain to sink at least two triples. He went 4-for-5 from beyond the arc in Game 1 and Game 2, and the Thunder still need his quick trigger to space the court. McCain should also get solid looks because Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell both force the defense to collapse on drives.

The second best bet is taking Gilgeous-Alexander to score a maximum of 29 points. The Lakers are doubling him every chance they get in order to make him pass the basketball. It has worked, as Gilgeous-Alexander scored 18 points on 15 shots in Game 1 and 22 points on 13 shots in Game 2. Look for head coach JJ Redick to once again employ this strategy in Game 3.

Thunder vs. Lakers Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Jared McCain O1.5 3PM (+125)
Best Bet: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander U29.5 Points (-118)
Score Prediction: Thunder 115, Lakers 109

Thunder vs. Lakers Game Odds

Thunder vs. Lakers Game Information

Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Network: ABC
Location: Los Angeles, California
Venue: Crypto.com Arena – 229.6 ppg; 22-22 O/U
Series Score: Thunder 2-0

Thunder vs. Lakers Betting Resources

Thunder vs. Lakers Key Players

Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Last Game: 22 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Chet Holmgren – Last Game: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
Ajay Mitchell – Last Game: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists

Lakers

LeBron James – Last Game: 23 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists
Austin Reaves – Last Game: 31 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists
Rui Hachimura – Last Game: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 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.