In this ambitious duel in the West, it is the Thunder who gets the best start. With 10 points each, Josh Giddey seems to be having a good offensive night and Jalen Williams is ready to play the fast game. Herb Jones tries to launch his Pelicans with a spectacular shot while contorting, but it is OKC which controls the match in the first quarter. At the end of the period, NOLA regains the advantage thanks to a nice entry from Jose Alvarado, but the two teams are in a tight spot (34-33).
Although limited by a sore quadriceps, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander began to find his rhythm in the second quarter. Opposite, Zion Williamson also shows his power in percussion. And you have to! Because the Pelicans are starting to fall behind, at -12 after a dunk from Chet Holmgren. It's quite simple: apart from Williamson, the NOLA starters are tearing at 3/14 on shots. OKC returns to the locker room with a 15-point lead (73-58), with a superb 63% shooting success rate, including 50% from 3-point range.
The too short return of the Pelicans
We take the same ones and start again, in the third quarter. Josh Giddey strikes on the counter-attack with a well-controlled volley, but also on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, while SGA has found its bearings to sneak into the defense. But CJ McCollum gradually regains skill from afar, and Willie Green's men launch into a scathing 20-2 while Marshall and Williamson also get involved.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander calms the public's renewed enthusiasm a little with a basket, then an offensive rebound to give Holmgren a dunk. But almost everything has to be done again for OKC (96-90).
This is confirmed in the last quarter with the Pelicans who equalize and even go ahead, on a long shot from Trey Murphy. The two teams go blow for blow in money time. Giddey is the Thunder's improbable scorer. With five successes from distance, he sets a personal record and above all allows OKC to stay in contact. Because NOLA has regained the upper hand and it takes a big shot from SGA to equalize in the last minute. Lu Dort adds another layer, before J-Dub comes to seal the fate of the match with a layup, with a 12-0 Thunder (119-112).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Thunder keeps their cool. Although they saw their twenty-point lead melt away like snow in the third quarter, the young Thunder were able to keep their cool at the end of the match, to inflict a 12-0 which allowed them to subdue a direct opponent in their conference, and win the series on the season as well. Jalen Williams (26 points) did not hesitate to score 4 clutch points to tip the scales at the end of the match.
– Josh Giddey had the hot hand. Put in difficulty this season by competition from the Thunder in the back positions, due to a still hesitant 3-point shot, Josh Giddey is starting to show positive signs of serious progress. Last night, the Australian guard was very clean with 25 points on 10/14 shots including 5/8 from distance. In the second half, he was particularly effective with 15 units at 6/7.
– A big comeback for nothing. Dropped fifteen lengths at half-time, the Pels managed to restart the match in the third quarter, with a 20-2 which struck the Thunder, behind the newfound skill of CJ McCollum but also rapid play and recovery for Murphy, Jones or Williamson. At the end of the match, the latter did not see too much of the ball while OKC in turn inflicted a series (12-0). A lesson for the rest of the season: “We were too immobile at the end of the match and I clearly have to ask for the ball more in these situations,” concludes Zion Williamson.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
