Thunder brace for perhaps their biggest stage: a West semifinals showdown with LeBron and the Lakers

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — From a strictly basketball standpoint, this young version of the Thunder truly arrived last season when they won Oklahoma City's first NBA title.

From a visibility point of view, the Thunder are preparing for perhaps their biggest stage yet — a Western Conference semifinals series against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Thunder know what the Lakers mean to the sport. The franchise has won 17 championships while remaining relevant for generations. Facing such a respected opponent will give Oklahoma City a rare spotlight.

They also know what James, the league's all-time scoring leader, brings. Most of them grew up watching James win four championships and reach the Finals regularly.

“Playing against an all-time great like that, you get up for those those games, regardless of when they are,” reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said.

Oklahoma City's respect for the Lakers franchise or its star won't affect the action, though. And despite the glitz and glamour attached to LA and James, the top-seeded Thunder are the clear favorites in a series that starts Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

“I think the beautiful thing about this league is that it has a lot of history,” All-Star Chet Holmgren said. “But at the end of the day, whether they’re wearing purple or pink out there, it’s not going to affect how we need to play and approach it.”

Though Oklahoma City has earned the top seed in the West three straight years, some casual fans will get their first look at the Thunder simply because of the Lakers' name and star power.

The Lakers know small-market Oklahoma City has big-time talent. The Thunder won all four regular-season matchups this season by an average of 29 points.

“It’s one of the greatest teams ever in NBA history,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “That’s the reality. They are. They’re that good. I think our guys recognize that and respect that, and we know what kind of task we have in front of us.”

Lakers defensive stopper Marcus Smart called Gilgeous-Alexander the “No. 1 defensive challenge in the NBA right now.”

“It’s going to be a challenge for not just me, but everybody on this team to stay out of foul trouble, keep him off the line as much as possible, and then just continue to shut him down,” Smart said. “It’s tough, but it can be done.”

Lakers star Luka Doncic injured his left hamstring in Oklahoma City about a month ago and hasn’t played since. The league scoring champion averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists in the regular season.

Redick hasn't said if or when Doncic could return from an injury that sometimes requires two months of recovery. Doncic shot 3-pointers with his teammates Monday while they wrapped up a workout before their flight to Oklahoma City.

At age 41, James still has juice. In Game 6 against Houston, he had 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists to help the Lakers clinch the series.

“I just went over to him and was like, you’re insane,” LA guard Austin Reaves said. “Like, the stuff that you’re doing isn’t, it’s ... it’s not normal, especially age whatever. He’s been in the league for 23 years. The way he demands a game, the way he can control a game — it’s impressive.”

This is the third postseason meeting between the teams.

The Thunder announced their arrival in 2010 when they pushed the defending champion Lakers to six games in the first round. The young trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden made Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol work before the Lakers won the series and, eventually, Bryant’s last championship.

In 2012, the Thunder, still with Durant, Westbrook and Harden, rolled past the Lakers 4-1 in the West semifinals. The Thunder eventually lost to James' Miami Heat in the Finals.

Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams, a 2025 All-Star, missed most of the first-round series against Phoenix with a left hamstring injury. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault did not declare him ready for a return, saying Monday only that Williams is progressing.

In the last two games of the Phoenix series, Ajay Mitchell moved into the starting lineup in Williams' place. The second-year guard shot 5 for 20 from the field in Game 3 but went 7 for 16 and scored 22 points in Game 4.

Reaves was limited in the first round with a strained oblique muscle. He played the final two games against Houston and averaged 18.5 points. He went 4 for 16 in his return as a reserve in Game 5 but made 12 of 13 free throws and scored 22 points. He made 7 of 14 field goals in Game 6 and scored 15 points.

AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

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Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in Houston, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center drives to the basket between Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and Suns guard Collin Gillespie, right, during the second half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks toward the scoreboard during the second half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, protects the ball from Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the second half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) — A weekend shooting at a lakeside park in Oklahoma that left nearly two dozen people injured erupted when a group began arguing at an unsanctioned party packed with young adults, a witness said Monday.

Authorities were continuing to search for suspects Monday in the shooting that critically injured at least three of those hurt. No arrests have been made.

It wasn’t clear how many of the injured had been shot, police said Monday in a statement. It provided few answers about what had happened.

The shooting broke out Sunday night at a public park near a campground at Arcadia Lake, a popular swimming and boating spot in Edmond, just north of Oklahoma City, said Edmond police spokesperson Emily Ward.

Jeremiah Smith estimated 250 people showed up at the party. He said the trouble began when a group of girls started arguing over boyfriends. “It just started a whole bunch of chaos,” he said.

“Everybody got scared, dudes was panicking, women was panicking, people seeing their friends fight,” Smith said.

The 18-year-old said he heard shots ring out in different directions for several minutes as he ran toward the lake. Those hit included two of his friends, he added.

At least 18 people were treated at hospitals in the Oklahoma City area. One healthcare system said the victims it treated ranged in age from 16 to 30. It said three people were in critical condition and four were listed as serious.

Police in Edmond said Monday that the party had been promoted across social media, drawing a large crowd of mostly young adults from across the Oklahoma City area.

Edmond Mayor Mark Nash said the shooting took place at a public park where spaces can be reserved for large gatherings. “To our knowledge, there was no reservation through the parks department,” he said.

Nash declined to answer questions about the shooting, saying police were handling the investigation.

“We’re already taking steps to review and strengthen park operations, permitting processes and security measures,” the mayor said.

Some of those injured were transported for medical attention while others sought treatment on their own, authorities said.

Integris Health said it treated 13 people at its hospitals in Edmond and Oklahoma City. Seven remained in Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, including three in critical condition.

OU Health said it received five people at its trauma center but didn't elaborate.

While police did not provide more details about the party, a flyer circulated on social media after the shooting suggested that an event called Sunday Funday was scheduled at a pavilion near the lake until midnight.

It advertised food, drinks, music and “good vibes, good people.”

Arcadia Lake is dotted with picnic pavilions, campgrounds, a fishing pier, and swimming beaches. Built in the 1980s for outdoor recreation and flood control, the lake also provides water to the city of Edmond, a suburb of about 100,000 residents.

Forty years ago, Edmond was the site of one of the deadliest workplace shootings in U.S. history. On Aug. 20, 1986, postal worker Patrick Sherrill shot 20 co-workers, killing 14 of them. He then killed himself.

Over the weekend, another shooting at a party in the Texas Panhandle left two teens dead and 10 other people wounded. Police in Amarillo said two persons opened fire at an apartment complex early Saturday.

Associated Press reporters Jamie Stengle in Dallas, Corey Williams in Detroit, Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed.

Officials block the entrance to Scissortail Campground at Arcadia Lake, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Edmond, Okla., after a shooting on Sunday evening. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Two women talk to an Edmond police officer blocking the entrance to Scissortail Campground at Arcadia Lake, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Edmond, Okla., after a shooting on Sunday evening. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Officials block the entrance to Scissortail Campground at Arcadia Lake, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Edmond, Okla., after a shooting on Sunday evening. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Officials block the entrance to Scissortail Campground at Arcadia Lake, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Edmond, Okla., after a shooting on Sunday evening. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Officials block the entrance to Scissortail Campground at Arcadia Lake, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Edmond, Okla., after a shooting Sunday evening. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Emily Ward with the Edmond Police gives an update on a campground shooting at Arcadia Lake in Edmond, Okla., Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) CORRECTION: Corrects day

Police block off near S. Air Depot boulevard in Edmond, Okla., after a campground shooting at Lake Arcadia, Sunday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams) CORRECTION: Corrects day

Emily Ward with the Edmond Police gives an update on a campground shooting at Arcadia Lake in Edmond, Okla., Saturday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Police block off near S. Air Depot boulevard in Edmond, Okla., after a campground shooting at Lake Arcadia, Saturday, May 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)