The Oklahoma City Thunder are on a historic run, and they showed no signs of slowing down in Game 3. Behind a breakout performance from Ajay Mitchell, who dropped 24 points, the Thunder pulled away from the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half to secure a dominant 131-108 victory. The win gives OKC a commanding 3-0 series lead and extends their playoff winning streak to seven games—a new franchise record.

The game had a familiar feel for Lakers fans. Los Angeles hung tough in the first half, matching the Thunder's intensity and making plays on both ends of the floor. But as has been the case throughout the series, Oklahoma City's depth and adaptability proved too much to handle in the end.

Midway through the third quarter, with the game and the season slipping away, Lakers coach JJ Redick rolled the dice. He went with a small-ball lineup, removing the center and trusting Adou Thiero to battle against a bigger Thunder frontcourt. For a brief moment, it worked—the Lakers ripped off a 7-0 run, and the home crowd erupted, desperate for any spark. But Mitchell quickly settled the Thunder down. A couple of timely three-pointers pushed the lead back to double digits, and Oklahoma City never looked back.

"Typically, you can poke holes at a team in a playoff series," Redick said after the game. "There's a good chance they might have a temporary solution or can sort of adjust. But this team—in-game because of their personnel—they just adjust. They need shooting on the floor, great. They need multiple wing defenders on the floor, great. They need two bigs on the floor, great. They're a terrific basketball team."

The Thunder's versatility was on full display. Whether it was Mitchell's scoring burst, the team's ability to switch defensive schemes, or their relentless pace, Oklahoma City simply had answers for everything the Lakers threw at them. The win also marked a historic milestone: the Thunder became the sixth reigning champion in NBA history to start the playoffs 7-0 or better, joining elite company that includes the 2017 Cavaliers and the 2001 Lakers.

Game 4 is set for Monday night in Los Angeles, and the Lakers will need to dig deep to keep their season alive. But if the first three games are any indication, the Thunder are playing with a confidence and cohesion that makes them look like a team destined for another deep run.