Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lifts Thunder past Pelicans in tight battle without Zion Williamson

The New Orleans Pelicans got here so near pulling off an enormous upset with out star Zion Williamson on Sunday night time.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, nonetheless, confirmed up completely on the very finish.

The MVP finalist lifted the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to a decent 94-92 win over the Pelicans in what was maybe the very best Sport 1 throughout the league this weekend. The Thunder, who had been internet hosting their first playoff recreation in precisely 5 years on the Paycom Middle on Sunday night time, grew to become the eighth dwelling group to win their playoff opener over the previous two days, making for a uncommon clear sweep for the primary time since 2013.

After showing to tug away within the third quarter, the Thunder largely shut down offensively within the fourth. They went on a stretch with out making a discipline aim for greater than 5 full minutes, and the Pelicans took full benefit. The Pelicans mounted a dominant 18-6 run over that stretch to erase a double-digit deficit and soar again in entrance after enjoying a step behind for a lot of the second half.

Lastly, although, Gilgeous-Alexander hit a jumper to finish the Thunder’s dry spell with simply 90 seconds left to tie the sport. Then, after Chet Holmgren got here up together with his fifth block of the night time, Gilgeous-Alexander transformed a ridiculous and-one jumper from the lane on the subsequent possession.

Although CJ McCollum hit a mid-range jumper of his personal to finish a Pelicans scoring drought, and he bought one closing take a look at a game-winner, the Pelicans couldn’t convert. The Thunder got here up with one final cease to seal their two-point win.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 28 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists regardless of going 0-of-3 from behind the arc. Jalen Williams added 19 factors and 7 rebounds, and Holmgren had 15 factors and 11 rebounds to go together with his 5 blocks.

Trey Murphy led the Pelicans with 21 factors and 4 rebounds, and McCollum added 20 factors whereas taking pictures 9-of-22 from the sector. Jonas Valanciunas completed with 13 factors and 20 rebounds.

The Pelicans needed to beat the Sacramento Kings within the closing play-in match recreation on Friday night time to even make the playoffs. Williamson, who dropped 40 factors of their play-in loss to the Lakers final week, missed that contest on account of a hamstring harm. He was unavailable on Sunday night time, too, and he’s going to be out till at the very least Sport 5 of this sequence. If he was wholesome and obtainable on Sunday night time, the sport might have been a lot totally different for the Pelicans.

However even with him sidelined for at the very least the fast future, New Orleans confirmed it might completely hold with the highest seed within the Western Convention. Whether or not that may result in a sequence upset, although, stays to be seen.