Tim MacMahon May 9, 2026, 11:05 PM ET

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Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009

Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks

Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM

LOS ANGELES -- It comes as no surprise that the Los Angeles Lakers are being lit up by an Oklahoma City Thunder guard through three games of their Western Conference semifinals series.

But while the Lakers have actually succeeded in slowing reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander -- holding him to 21.0 points per game, more than 10 fewer that his season average -- they don't have any answers for second-year guard Ajay Mitchell .

The Belgian-born second-round pick, who wasn't even in the Thunder's playoff rotation as a rookie during Oklahoma City's championship run last season, torched the Lakers for 24 points and 10 assists without a turnover Saturday in a dominant 131-108 win in Game 3.…