Los Angeles Lakers Vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Most Valuable Showdown We've got a big matchup tonight between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers; live at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Two prospective MVP candidates going head to head tonight with a lot more on the line than just boasting rights. Let's jump straight into this one. If you're searching for the Madness (CBB); click on this link for whatever you require. - Location: Paycom Center; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Date: Thursday, April second, 2026 - Tipoff: 9:40 PM EST - Luka Dončić (LAL): 35.9 MPG|33.8 PPG|7.8 RPG|8.3 APG - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): 33.5 MPG|31.4 PPG|4.4 RPG|6.5 APG Gilly in the Mist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stays the favorite to win this year's NBA Most Valuable Player Award and it's not without benefit. The ruling MVP/Finals MVP is balancing 31.6 points per game this year to go along with 6.5 assists per contest. He's shooting 55.3% from the field and getting to the line for 9.4 totally free throw efforts per game. Shai ranks 3rd in the NBA this year in points produced and his group once again has the very best record in the NBA. Oklahoma City when again has among the two best defenses in the NBA and at the center it's been Chet Holmgren. The Thunder's defensive ranking drops to 104.7 with him on the court, he ranks fourth in blocks and second in protective field objective portion; holding challengers to 41.3%. Chet's also been an elite rim protector, ranking 1st in defensive field goal percentage from within six feet and holding challengers to 49.1% at the rim. Oklahoma City ranks 1st in opponent effective field goal percentage, 2nd in points enabled and have actually done a fantastic job of keeping their challengers off the line. The Thunder rank 9th in complimentary tosses permitted this year, in spite of ranking 24th in personal fouls.