LA Lakers – Oklahoma City Thunder Pick NBA Playoffs 2025/26, Game 4 on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 4:30 a.m.
Many expected the Lakers to be eliminated in the first round. Instead, the team—led by a dominant LeBron James—surprisingly prevailed against Houston, even though Luka Doncic was out from start to finish!
But having to face this second series without the Slovenian has so far proven to be fatal! According to my LA Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder prediction, the far superior visitors will seal the deal tonight!
LA Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Predictions:
Our data model has weighed in with an LA Lakers vs. Thunder AI prediction for Game 4 that aligns almost perfectly with the opinions of most NBA experts.
Ajay Mitchell scoring 17+ points at odds of around 1.95 is ultimately the preferred player bet for tonight among many! The Belgian has already hit this mark in all three games of the series and even emerged as the game’s top scorer in Game 3.
The Lakers have their hands full defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, leaving Mitchell open and unguarded time and again! That’s unlikely to change much tonight!
Since Los Angeles is trailing 0-3 and seems to have completely lost faith in themselves, tonight could indeed be a bitter game for them (even worse than Game 3).
Especially without Doncic, the Lakers lack almost any consistency when it comes to taking the pressure off—especially down the stretch! In comparison, the Thunder look much more focused after halftime!
Here’s what you need to keep in mind for LA Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder bets
- A sweep looms: The Oklahoma City Thunder lead the series 3-0. After their decisive 131-108 victory in Game 3 last Saturday, the defending champions are on the verge of advancing to the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers have their backs against the wall at home in Crypto.com Arena.
- OKC remains undefeated: The “Thunder Express” rolls on unstoppably. With the win in Game 3, Oklahoma City has extended its 2026 playoff record to 7-0. Across seasons, the Lakers have now lost their last seven matchups against OKC.
- Ajay Mitchell as the X-factor: The young guard delivered a career-high performance in Game 3 with 24 points and 10 assists (without a single turnover).
Together with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (23 pts.) and Chet Holmgren (18 pts., 9 reb.), he forms a trio that has so far overwhelmed the Lakers’ defense.
- Lakers’ Worries Without Luka: The Lakers are still missing scoring champion Luka Doncic, which shifts the burden almost entirely onto LeBron James (19 pts., 8 ast. in Game 3) and Rui Hachimura (21 pts.). Additionally, Jarred Vanderbilt’s injury weakens the defensive depth.
