PREVIEW: The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder are heavy favorites entering their Western Conference semifinal matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. The Thunder dominated the regular-season series, winning all four matchups by an average of 29 points , establishing themselves as the clear team to beat in the Western Conference. From a basketball standpoint, this young Thunder squad truly arrived last season when they won Oklahoma City's first NBA title, and now they prepare for perhaps their biggest stage yet against LeBron James and the Lakers. The Lakers have ruled out Luka Doncic for Game 1 from a left hamstring injury that sometimes requires two months of recovery , forcing the burden of their offensive creation onto aging superstars and complementary pieces. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 33.8 points, 8.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds against the Suns while shooting 55.1 percent from the field in the first round, signaling that the Thunder's elite two-way capabilities will present serious matchup problems for a Lakers roster lacking fresh legs. The Thunder ruled out Jalen Williams for the opener against the Lakers on Monday due to a hamstring strain, though Ajay Mitchell moved into the starting lineup in Williams' place and helped the Thunder complete the sweep of Phoenix. Reaves was limited in the first round with a strained oblique muscle but played the final two games against Houston, averaging 18.5 points. The Thunder went 34-8 at home, and the Lakers went 25-16 on the road , setting the stage for a clash between the league's best home team and a visitor searching for upset magic in Oklahoma City.