NEW ORLEANS — In an impressive performance, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 119-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night, contributing 31 points to the team’s success. He made a significant impact early, scoring 16 of those points in the first quarter, while teammate Jalen Williams added 27 points to keep the momentum alive for the Thunder.
Oklahoma City established their dominance by racing to a 77-51 lead by halftime, showcasing their strength both in the paint and during transition plays. This victory marked their seventh win in the last eight games, showing a remarkable turnaround in their form.
For the Pelicans, Dejounte Murray was the standout scorer with 26 points, while Herb Jones chipped in with 24. However, poor ball control hampered their performance as they committed 18 turnovers throughout the game, contributing to their 16th loss in just 18 outings.
In the third quarter, the Pelicans made a push, narrowing the gap to 99-80 after outscoring the Thunder 29-22. They even managed to get as close as 114-105 with just over three minutes left in the game, but a quick five points from the Thunder sealed their victory.
Key Takeaways: The Thunder outshined the Pelicans in the paint, with a notable 40-18 advantage, and displayed remarkable shooting efficiency, hitting 67.4% of their shots in the first half, which included 19 layups. Conversely, New Orleans struggled early, racking up six turnovers in the first few minutes, leaving them trailing 20-5. Their leading scorer, Brandon Ingram, recently returning from a foot injury, exited the game just 17 seconds into the third quarter after falling awkwardly and twisting his ankle, finishing with only five points.
A pivotal moment in the game came when six of Gilgeous-Alexander’s first seven baskets were layups, with the seventh being a three-pointer, allowing the Thunder to surge ahead 35-23 by the end of the first. This performance marked Gilgeous-Alexander’s 11th game scoring 30 or more points this season.
In terms of defense, the Thunder entered the matchup leading the NBA with an average of 12.1 steals per game and managed to obtain 13 steals against the Pelicans, reinforcing their defensive prowess.
Looking ahead, the Thunder are set to host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday in the knockout stage of the NBA Emirates Cup. Meanwhile, the Pelicans will travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Sunday.
