The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 2 response was never about a single lineup suddenly finding chemistry, according to Ajay Mitchell. It was about a team trusting that every group on the floor can uphold the standard.
That belief was evident again Thursday night when the Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107, taking a 2-0 series lead despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being limited to 22 points and spending part of the third quarter in foul trouble. Mitchell, starting in place of the injured Jalen Williams, continued his breakout postseason with 20 points and six assists, showing the composure Oklahoma City has relied on throughout the series.
“Every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go,” Mitchell said. “The coaching staff does a great job preparing all of us, and we have a lot of competitors.”
That depth became crucial when Gilgeous-Alexander went to the bench with his fourth foul and the Lakers briefly seized control. Mitchell emphasized the approach was simple: keep attacking without forcing anything.
“It’s hard to fill those gaps, you know,” he said. “But I just try to be as aggressive as possible and make the right play.”
Oklahoma City turned that stretch into a statement. While Gilgeous-Alexander sat, the Thunder outscored Los Angeles 32-15 in the third quarter and took a 93-80 lead into the fourth. Mitchell said the group stayed locked on the same objective.
“We did a great job in those minutes of pushing through and trying to build that lead,” he said. “Credit to the team. We did a great job.”
Mitchell also praised the spacing and shooting around him, including Jared McCain, who has provided a major boost off the bench. “He’s a crazy shooter, crazy scorer,” Mitchell said. “It’s amazing to have him on the team and be able to feed him.”
The physicality of the game did not catch him off guard. Mitchell said the Thunder embraced that challenge instead of treating it as a disruption.
“Obviously it’s the playoffs. It’s going to be physical,” he said. “We’re a physical team. They’re a physical team, and it’s going to be a battle.”
For Mitchell, the biggest takeaway from the series has been balance. He said he is learning where he fits as a player while staying focused on the only result that matters.
“It’s just trying to go out there and make winning plays,” he said. “If I have to be more aggressive, I’ve got to do that. But at the end of the day, all that matters is getting that win.”
He added that his game is still evolving, even in the midst of a playoff run.
“I just got to keep going, keep working, and watch film,” Mitchell said. “I know I can be much better.”
