Inside the Actor Awards: Roars as 'Sinners' wins big, stars mingling and other off-camera moments

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Screen Actors Guild’s 32nd Actor Awards ended with thunderous roars inside the Shrine Exposition Hall, where attendees leaped from their banquet seats in celebration as back-to-back wins for Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” brought the ceremony to an electrifying close.

The eruption began even before Viola Davis finished announcing the winner for best male actor.

After opening the envelope, Davis glanced at the card — prompting a collective gasp that rippled across the showroom, as if much of the audience already knew what was coming. When she called out Michael B. Jordan’s name, cheers exploded through the cavernous hall, with stars rising to their feet and embracing around the room.

Minutes later, the volume climbed again.

Before revealing the winner for best ensemble, presenter Samuel L. Jackson let out an enthusiastic scream that sent a surge of anticipation through the crowd. Natasha Rothwell was among the first to jump up, pumping her fists and shouting “Yes!” as Jackson declared “Sinners.”

Jordan, who had just accepted his individual award backstage, reemerged, tapping a dancing Jackson on the shoulder before heading toward several of his castmates, including Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku. The group collapsed into hugs as the room rose once more in a standing ovation, the showroom transforming into a full celebration among actors honoring their own.

While those moments played powerfully on screen, much of the night’s energy unfolded away from the cameras — in the aisles between tables, during commercial breaks and inside crowded holding areas just outside the showroom doors.

Once the ceremony cut to commercial, the ballroom instantly shifted into motion.

Actors slipped out of their chairs to head toward the bar, make quick bathroom runs or weave between tables to greet friends — even if only for a few minutes — before stage lights dimmed and brightened again to signal it was time to return to their seats.

During the first break, “Pluribus” star Rhea Seehorn and “Sinners” actor Jayme Lawson hurried across the room in high heels to congratulate Keri Russell, who had just won best female actor in a drama series for “The Diplomat.”

During another break, Woody Harrelson caught up with Jason Bateman while Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell exchanged greetings with fellow attendees. Rockwell later reconnected with Omar Benson Miller outside the showroom.

When Miles Caton appeared onstage backed by a full choir performing “This Little Light of Mine,” one actor jumped to her feet faster than many of his “Sinners” castmates.

Parker Posey was among the first in the showroom to embrace the gospel energy. She stood up almost immediately, dancing in place and throwing her hands into the air as Caton led the performance.

The song originated in the 1920s and has been sung and remixed over the years. The rendition for the “Sinners” film featured Caton along with the DC6 Singers Collective and the Pleasant Valley Youth Choir of New Orleans.

Around Posey, other attendees soon followed, clapping along as the musical number filled the ballroom.

Before stepping into the showroom, Hollywood stars mixed and mingled in a packed holding area lined with sofas and open bars, greeting friends and grabbing last-minute drinks before the ceremony began.

“F1” star Damson Idris moved through the crowd alongside Seehorn. “Sinners” co-stars Lawson and Omar Benson Miller stopped to chat with attendees nearby. Seth Rogen of “The Studio” ordered a pair of cocktails at the bar, sampling one before heading inside.

Sheryl Lee Ralph paused for photos with her “Abbott Elementary” co-star Tyler James Williams, who earlier caught up with Courtney B. Vance.

Inside the showroom, watching the ceremony often depended on where actors were seated.

Some turned their chairs to face the stage directly, like when Jeremy Allen White rotated in his seat to keep his eyes on the presenters, while Jean Smart — seated beside Hannah Einbinder — relied more on large video screens positioned around the room.

Adam Scott also shifted his chair to follow the broadcast feed, adjusting his view depending on the angle from his table.

As the ceremony wound down, Ralph was approached by actor Odessa A’zion, who rushed over to embrace the “Abbott Elementary” star. The two exchanged words of admiration before Ralph offered a warm send-off: “Stay beautiful. Stay grounded.”

Actors lingered at their tables taking photos and hugging colleagues before gradually moving toward the exits and into the post-awards gala, the echoes of celebration still carrying through the hall.

Miles Caton, center, performs 'This Little Light of Mine' during the 32nd Annual Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Sandra Bernhard, left, and Gwyneth Paltrow appear in the audience during the 32nd Annual Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Chase Infiniti, left, and Teyana Taylor in the audience at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Ted Sarandos, from left, Nicole Flender, and Timothee Chalamet are seen in the audience during the 32nd Annual Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Damson Idris, left, and Yerin Ha appear in the audience during the 32nd Annual Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Emma Stone, from left, Demi Moore, Michelle Williams, and Jesse Plemons appear in the audience during the 32nd Annual Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Delroy Lindo, from left, Miles Canton, Wunmi Mosaku, Omar Benson Miller, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Lola Kirke, Francine Maisler, Michael B. Jordan, and Jack O'Connell accept the award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture for "Sinners" during the 32nd Annual Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers, he is averaging 20 points and taking only 14 shots per game.

Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points. Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.

Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19 points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.

“I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,” said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like, everyone’s a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright, everyone’s ready to go.”

Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with 23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the series.

“He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "He’s going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays, plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series.”

The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.

Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.

With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw put the Thunder up 85-74.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.

“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They strung together stops, they’re playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've proven that. They’ve proven that no matter who’s on the floor, they know how to get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."

The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away again.

Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.

“We just stuck with it,” Holmgren said. “It’s the game of basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s about how you respond. And this team has proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight.”

This story has been corrected to show that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 20, not 19, points per game against the Lakers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren (7) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves (15) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, front, works for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, rear, defends in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James stands on the court in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Lakers' Deandre Ayton (5) and LeBron James, rear, in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) works to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half of Game 2 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)