Lakers fight to the finish but are eliminated by Thunder - BERITAJA

All Lakers coach JJ Redick asked of his group was to “win the day.”

That time had to beryllium Monday night, the only time that mattered for a Lakers squad connected the brink of elimination.

The Lakers came close, but they did not triumph the day, losing Game 4 115-110 to the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder connected Monday nighttime astatine Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers’ play is over, having been swept 4-0 successful the Western Conference semifinal series.

Austin Reaves led the Lakers pinch 27 points, Rui Hachimura had 25 points and LeBron James had 24 points and 12 rebounds.

When the crippled was over, James hugged respective of the Thunder players.

Thunder defender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ties up Lakers defender Marcus Smart during a scramble for a loose shot during the first half of Game 4 connected Monday nighttime astatine Crypto.com Arena.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

James is successful the last twelvemonth of a statement that paid him $52 cardinal this season, and astatine 41 and successful his 23rd season, the conversations now move to his future.

Will James retire? Will James return to the Lakers? Will James play for different team?

Those are the large questions going forward.

With 40.9 seconds near successful the game, Marcus Smart scored, was fouled and made the free propulsion for a 110-109 Lakers lead.

But Chet Holmgren scored connected a dunk for a 111-110 Thunder lead pinch 32.8 seconds left.

The Lakers called a timeout to group up a play.

James missed a floater conscionable extracurricular the lane and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who vanished pinch 35 points and 8 assists, was fouled pinch 12.2 seconds left. He made some free throws for a 113-100 Thunder lead.

The Lakers called different timeout to group up different play pinch their play connected the line.

Reaves missed a imaginable game-tying three-pointer and Alex Caruso sewage the rebound, starring to a timeout for the Thunder pinch 7.6 seconds remaining.

Ajay Mitchell was fouled aft the inbounds walk and made 2 free throws for a 115-110 lead that stood.

Earlier successful the 4th quarter, Jared McCain drilled a three-pointer to necktie the people astatine 92-92.

Then James threw a walk distant that bounced disconnected 2 Thunder defenders and Reaves, pinch the officials ruling it was still the Lakers’ possession. The telephone was challenged by the Thunder. The charismatic reappraisal wished that the shot went disconnected Reaves, giving the Thunder the shot pinch six minutes and 35 seconds left.

Mitchell scored, was fouled by Smart and made the free propulsion for a three-point play and a 95-92 Thunder lead.

For the first clip successful this series, the Lakers won the 3rd quarter, outscoring the Thunder 39-31 to unfastened an 84-80 lead heading into the fourth.

Jaxson Hayes punctuated the 3rd pinch a two-handed dunk, bringing the crowd retired of their seats.

The Lakers sizzled successful the 3rd quarter, shooting 76.5% from the section and 71.4% from three-point range.

Hachimura was connected occurrence successful the 3rd quarter, scoring 12 points connected four-for-six shooting.

Reaves had a beardown first quarter, scoring 8 points connected three-for-three shooting, 2 for 2 connected three-pointers.

With James adding six points and six rebounds, the Lakers opened a 26-21 lead aft the first quarter.

But the Thunder deed the Lakers pinch a 17-0 tally to unfastened a 12-point lead successful the 2nd quarter.