Thunder vs Pelicans recap: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC roar to 3 ...

28 Apr 2024

Oklahoman.com

Thunder vs Pelicans recap Shai GilgeousAlexander OKC roar to 3

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 24 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder took a 3-0 series lead against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.

Show Caption

Hide Caption

Thunder vs Pelicans: Chet Holmgren sets the tone for OKC in Game 2 win

Chet Holmgren set the tone in OKC's 124-92 playoff win over New Orleans on Wednesday.

No. 1-seeded OKC continues its first-round playoff series against No. 8 New Orleans with Game 3 at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in New Orleans.

The Thunder holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. It earned a 124-92 home win over the Pelicans in Game 2 on Wednesday.

Here's what you need to know about the matchup:

More: Thunder vs Pelicans: What are three biggest keys for OKC to go up 3-0 in NBA playoffs?

More: Which players won 2023-24 NBA awards? Here are the full voting results

More: Mark Daigneault, OKC Thunder assistant coaches have rare continuity: 'No ego in the room'

The Thunder takes a convincing 3-0 lead in the series after a 106-85 win here in New Orleans. OKC chants echoing through a hallowed Smoothie King Center. Shai, Giddey and Chet all score at least 21 points. OKC shoots 48.2% FG, 47.2% from 3.

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

More: How Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren put OKC Thunder one win away from NBA playoff sweep of Pelicans

Ingram's hits a wild shot with Dort quite literally under him to make it 85-69 after 3. A break in the momentum after Jalen Williams went on a shotmaking spree to end the quarter. OKC is 14 for 29 (48.3%) from 3. Just beating NO over the head with shot after shot.

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

Chet Holmgren has three blocks, each a message-sending denial for any Pelican heading into the paint.

More: Charles Barkley reacts to OKC's Jalen Williams' outfit: 'You just can't wear anything, kids'

OKC shot 66.7% from the floor and made all 4 of its 3s in the quarter. Dort, Shai and Jalen Williams each scored at least eight points in the period. Ingram and McCollum a combined 5 for 19.

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

Just a backbreaking stretch run by OKC. A Shai end-of-clock step back 3, a Dort 3 above the break, Chet meets Murphy at the rim to block a slam attempt, Dort drills another in the corner. Now 49-39 Thunder. Murphy looked like he wanted to fight Marc Davis otw to the huddle.

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

Thunder ahead 23-19 after 1. Survived the time without JDub behind a really good stretch from Cason Wallace (5 pts, 2 stls). Shotmaking hasn’t been a thing. Dort still in BI’s grill, NO making OKC work harder than it did it Game 2. Pels shooting 36.4% FG, OKC at 38.1%.

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

OKC’s Jalen Williams exited the game in the first quarter with an eye injury.

The second-year forward suffered the injury while attempting a layup on the Thunder’s opening possession. He checked out at the 11:27 mark and briefly went to the locker room, but he checked back in with 53.1 seconds left in the quarter.

Williams is a key contributor for OKC. He averaged 20 points, six rebounds and 5.5 assists in the first two games of the playoff series.

—Justin Martinez, Staff writer

Asked who inspired his creativity in halfcourt sets, Mark Daigneault bluntly says "Shai." "It's just all based on the players. It's based on the personnel you have. He was the guy that could generate a lot of stuff. And then over time ... we've had guys with different strengths that we've tried to figure out a way to feature and leverage."

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

Willie Green, asked what the Pelicans’ morale is like right now: “Confident, ready to go. They won two games on their home floor. They’re the No. 1 seed, they’re supposed to do that.”

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA playoffs Game 3 prediction

It feels like New Orleans' best chance to take a game in this series was in Game 1.

But OKC managed to earned a 94-92 victory despite not playing its best basketball, and it looked sharper in Game 2. The Thunder earned a 124-92 win on a night when it shot 59% from the floor (48.3% from deep).

Now New Orleans is back home, where it only went 21-19 during the regular season. That's the worst home record of all the playoff teams.

Prediction: Thunder 111, Pelicans 105

Game 3: How to watch OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans

Date: Saturday, April 27
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
TV: Bally Sports Oklahoma, TNT/TruTV
Live Stream: Fubo (watch for free)

More: New Orleans Pelicans' defense falters in loss to OKC Thunder: 'No pointing fingers'

Injury report for OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans

OKC Thunder injury report

None

New Orleans Pelicans injury report

Zion Williamson (hamstring strain) is out.

More: How OKC Thunder managed to 'flip the page' vs Pelicans in Game 2 of NBA playoffs

Projected OKC Thunder starting lineup

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.2 APG)
Josh Giddey (12.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 4.8 APG)
Lu Dort (10.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 APG)
Jalen Williams (19.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.5 APG)
Chet Holmgren (16.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.4 APG)

More: Why do OKC Thunder fans bark like dogs? Credit Jalen Williams, Loud City

Projected New Orleans Pelicans starting lineup

CJ McCollum (20 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.6 APG)
Herb Jones (11 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1 APG)
Trey Murphy III (14.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 APG)
Brandon Ingram (20.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.7 APG)
Jonas Valanciunas (12.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.1 APG)

More: New Orleans Pelicans' defense falters in loss to OKC Thunder: 'No pointing fingers'

OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans playoff series schedule

Game 1: OKC 94, New Orleans 92
Game 2: OKC 124, New Orleans 92
Game 3: At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27 (TNT) in New Orleans
Game 4: TBD Monday, April 29 in New Orleans
Game 5 (If necessary): TBD Wednesday, May 1 in OKC
Game 6 (If necessary): TBD Friday, May 3 in New Orleans
Game 7 (If necessary): TBD Sunday, May 5 in OKC

More: OKC Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is chasing greatness and isn't afraid to fail on the way

OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans regular-season series record

OKC won the regular-season series, 2-1. The Thunder won the final two meetings by an average of 15.5 points.

More: Why former Thunder guard Tre Mann attended OKC's playoff win vs New Orleans

OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA playoffs Game 3 betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, April 27

Spread: OKC (-1.5)
Over/under: 209.5
Moneyline: OKC -120 | New Orleans +100

More: Why Shaquille O'Neal believes OKC Thunder will make Western Conference Finals

More: Why it's a 'blessing' for New Orleans' Willie Green to coach against OKC's Mark Daigneault

2024 NBA playoffs

More: Meet Jeremy Price, the tattooed courtside super fan at OKC Thunder games

More OKC Thunder news

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.