Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) takes a shot over the Los Angeles Lakers center DeAndre Ayton (25) as Ajay Mitchell (25) looks on in the first half of game 1 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Tue May 5, 2026 (AP News photo)

NBA Playoffs podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 How did the absence of Luka Dončić impact the Lakers’ offensive performance in Game 1?

#2 What adjustments did the Thunder make after halftime that allowed them to pull away from the Lakers?

#3 How significant was Chet Holmgren’s performance in establishing Oklahoma City’s dominance in Game 1?

#4 In what ways did turnovers and shooting efficiency contribute to the Lakers’ 108–90 loss?

#5 Considering the Thunder swept the Lakers in the regular season, what does Game 1 reveal about the gap between these two teams?

Michael Roberson is an NBA Playoff podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com