---
title: "Thunder vs Lakers: LeBron’s Biggest Under‑dog Gamble ..."
description: "Via CBS Sports NHL: LeBron James and the Lakers enter the Western Conference semifinals as 14‑1 underdogs against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thun..."
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url: https://headlinesbriefing.com/ru/sports/cbssports-nhl/thunder-vs-lakers-lebrons-biggest-underdog-gamble-this-playoff-014bbe8a
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  - Financial Times
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  - TechPowerUp
  - Ars Technica
  - Hacker News
  - ESPN
  - BBC Sport
---

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### Thunder vs Lakers: LeBron’s Biggest Under‑dog Gamble This Playoff

CBS Sports NHL • May 5, 2026 at 3:30 PM ET

[×](/ru/sports?tab=cbssports-nhl)

LeBron James and the Lakers enter the Western Conference semifinals as 14‑1 underdogs against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The series starts Tuesday at the Paycom Center, with the Lakers already having delivered a stunning upset over Houston as a +550 underdog earlier this postseason.

Detroit and Cleveland open their first‑round clash at Little Caesars Arena, where the Pistons, who rallied from a 3‑1 deficit against the Magic, face the Cavaliers. Cade Cunningham lit up the final three games with 45, 32 and 32 points, while a SportsLine model gives Detroit a 6.7‑point edge.

In the NHL, Minnesota’s Wild host Colorado in Game 2 of their semifinal series. Despite trailing 1‑0, Wild star Quinn Hughes leads the playoffs in scoring with 11 points and eight assists, giving the Wild a 41‑percent chance to win.

Across the board, betting tips favor the Lakers +15.5 spread, the Pistons –147 line, and the Wild +167. The Astros face the Dodgers in an MLB showdown, with Shohei Ohtani’s split‑finger delivery spotlighted as a key matchup point.

[Read original article](https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/todays-top-games-to-watch-best-bets-odds-pistons-cavaliers-thunder-lakers-game-1s-nhl-playoffs/)

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