Even though Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is known for his scoring, his effort on defense was crucial in Oklahoma City’s playoff victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized the importance of doing the little things right to win games.
In the game, Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Thunder secured a 97-89 victory, completing a sweep of the Pelicans in their first-round playoff series.
A key moment came in the fourth quarter when Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado blocked Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot, leading to a fast break opportunity for the Pelicans.
However, Thunder guard Jalen Williams’ defensive effort prevented an easy layup. Gilgeous-Alexander, hustling back on defense, grabbed the rebound to prevent further damage.
Reflecting on the play, Gilgeous-Alexander acknowledged his turnover but credited Williams for his defensive effort and expressed his determination to contribute on both ends of the court.
Shortly after, Chet Holmgren’s putback and Josh Giddey’s 3-pointer tied the game at 80 points. This sparked a crucial 18-2 run for the Thunder, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Williams, putting them ahead 93-82 with 3:08 remaining.
“Guys showed great confidence, and when we executed our offense like we did in the fourth quarter, our shots started falling more,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, who was named the NBA’s coach of the year the day before. “When necessary, we worked together, executed well, and got good shots. The players delivered.”
Williams ended the game with 24 points, while Giddey and Holmgren each contributed 14 points. Holmgren also grabbed nine rebounds.
“We knew tonight would be tough,” Giddey remarked. “The team came in with the right mindset… and we finished the job.”
CJ McCollum scored 20 points for New Orleans but struggled with poor 3-point shooting. The Pelicans only made eight of their 34 attempts from beyond the arc, shooting at 23.5%.
“We were so close,” McCollum commented. “We faced a really tough team. They’re the top team for a reason, and it’s disappointing we couldn’t win at least one game.”
