The New Orleans Pelicans got here so on the subject of pulling off an enormous disappointed with out big name Zion Williamson on Sunday night time.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on the other hand, confirmed up on the very finish.
Gilgeous-Alexander lifted the Oklahoma Town Thunder to a good 94-92 win past due in what was once in all probability the most efficient Recreation 1 all over the league this postseason. The Thunder — who snuck into the highest seed within the Western Convention within the ultimate days of the common season and had been webhosting their first playoff sport in precisely 5 years — changed into the 8th house crew to win their playoff sport this weekend, making for an ideal blank sweep.
The Thunder in large part close down in the second one part of the fourth quarter. They went on a stretch the place they did not make a box function for greater than 5 mins, which New Orleans took complete benefit of. They fastened a dominant 18-6 run over that span to erase a double-digit lead and in the end soar again in entrance after taking part in a step in the back of for a lot of the second one part.
After all, Gilgeous-Alexander hit a jumper to finish the Thunder’s dry spell with simply 90 seconds left to tie the sport up. Chet Holmgren then got here up along with his 5th block of the night time to arrange a ludicrous and-one jumper from Gilgeous-Alexander at the subsequent ownership.
As that was once happening, the Pelicans couldn’t make a shot. They went about 3 complete mins with out scoring prior to CJ McCollum hit a mid-range jumper. Whilst the Pelicans were given one ultimate take a look at a game-winner, McCollum ignored his ultimate shot to provide the Thunder their two-point win.
The primary part of the sport wasn’t nice offensively, and the 2 groups — who every controlled simply 17 issues within the first 12 mins — entered the locker room tied up 43-43. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was once the one participant on both crew to hit double figures within the first part.
In spite of now not having Williamson, and getting handiest 8 issues on 3-of-10 capturing from Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans nonetheless controlled to hold in there completely within the first part. There have been 12 lead adjustments and 11 ties within the first part.
Simply when the Thunder gave the impression of they might in the end draw back for excellent, because of an enormous 11-0 burst halfway during the 3rd quarter, the Pelicans bounced proper again. New Orleans replied with a 9-0 run itself to chop the deficit proper again to a unmarried ownership — regardless that a past due Isaiah Joe 3-pointer ended up sending the Thunder into the fourth quarter with a six level benefit.
The Thunder temporarily driven their result in double digits within the opening ownership of the overall length, too, however the Pelicans replied with back-to-back 3-pointers and a unfastened throw to make it a one ownership sport in an instant once more — which pressured a handy guide a rough Thunder timeout. That kicked off a longer 18-6 run, which put the Pelicans proper again in once more. That, regardless that, is when Gilgeous-Alexander completed the night time for Oklahoma Town to raise them to the win.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the way in which with 28 issues, six rebounds and 4 assists. Jalen Williams completed with 19 issues and 7 rebounds, and Holmgren had 15 issues and 11 rebounds ot pass along with his 5 blocks.
Trey Murphy led the Pelicans with 21 issues, and McCollum completed with 20 issues and 6 rebounds. Jonas Valanciunas added 13 issues and 20 rebounds.
This put up will likely be up to date with additional information in a while.