Thunder oust Pelicans, move on to face Wolves

Josh Giddey recorded 31 factors, 10 assists and 9 rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder remained alive for a Western Conference playoff spot by notching a 123-118 victory over the host New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night time in a play-in recreation.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 of his game-high 32 factors within the second half and Luguentz Dort added 27 factors for the Thunder, who will go to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night time. The winner will earn the No. 8 seed within the West and face the top-seeded Denver Nuggets within the first spherical of the playoffs.

Brandon Ingram registered 30 factors, seven assists and 6 rebounds for the Pelicans, who had been outscored by 11 factors within the second half. Trey Murphy III scored 21 factors, Herbert Jones added 20 and Jonas Valanciunas contributed 16 factors and 18 rebounds for New Orleans.

Oklahoma City went forward to remain on Gilgeous-Alexander’s basket with 28.3 seconds left. Gilgeous-Alexander tallied eight factors within the closing 1:40.

Jalen Williams added 11 factors for the Thunder, who shot 45.7 % from the sphere, together with 11 of 37 (29.7 %) from 3-point vary.

CJ McCollum added 14 factors for New Orleans, which made 48.3 % of its photographs and was 9 of 28 (32.1 %) from behind the arc. The Pelicans had been once more with out oft-injured Zion Williamson, who hasn’t performed since Jan. 2 resulting from a hamstring harm.

Ingram knocked down a 17-footer to provide New Orleans a 114-112 lead with 1:21 remaining. Oklahoma City’s Jaylin Williams cut up two free throws with 59.8 seconds left earlier than McCollum missed a floater for New Orleans with 37.9 seconds to play.

Gilgeous-Alexander then drove and lofted within the brief shot to provide the Thunder a 115-114 edge. Ingram missed an 16-footer with 18.4 seconds left earlier than Giddey made two free throws with 12 seconds remaining.

Ingram cut up two free throws with 10.4 seconds left to convey the Pelicans inside two. Dort made two free throws with 6.2 seconds left earlier than Ingram buried a 3-pointer to chop the New Orleans deficit to 119-118 with 4.3 seconds left.

Gilgeous-Alexander made 4 free throws within the closing 2.8 seconds left to seal it.

The Thunder trailed by six at halftime earlier than Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 factors within the third quarter. Oklahoma City outscored the Pelicans 39-24 within the interval.

The Thunder led 96-87 getting into the ultimate stanza earlier than New Orleans went on a 14-4 spurt. Josh Richardson’s dunk gave the Pelicans a 101-100 lead with 7:59 remaining.

Jones and Murphy every scored 15 first-half factors because the Pelicans led 63-57 on the break. Dort had 20 within the half for Oklahoma City.

–Field Level Media/Reuters