Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams found himself on the floor after a tough hit to the eye at the beginning of a crucial playoff match.
But by the third quarter, Williams was making shots, including two 3-pointers, in a 9-0 run that put pressure on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 24 points, while Williams and Josh Giddey contributed 21 each as the Thunder secured a 106-85 victory over the Pelicans on Saturday, grabbing a 3-0 lead in the playoff series.
“Dub’s really talented,” Gilgeous-Alexander commented on Williams, who has been averaging around 20 points per game in the series, scoring 13 of his Game 3 points in the second half. “He had a big game tonight, very impressive, and it’s nothing new for us.”
Initially facing doubts about their young and inexperienced roster, the top-seeded Thunder narrowly won Game 1 against the eighth-seeded Pelicans.
However, since then, they have dominated, winning Game 2 by 32 points and Game 3 by 21 points, largely due to their strong defensive play, limiting the Pelicans to 92 points or fewer in all three games of the series.
“We were prepared to compete,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault remarked. “Our focus on defense and physical play set a strong tone for the game.”
Oklahoma City made 47.2% of their 3-point shots and maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half, extending it to as much as 24 points in the fourth quarter. Thunder supporters cheered loudly with chants of “OKC! OKC!” as Pelicans fans exited.
“We adapted well to the game’s rhythm. We found good scoring opportunities,” Giddey noted. “Despite the different defensive strategies thrown at us, we have multiple offensive options on the court. So, players made smart decisions and shared the ball.”
The Pelicans, missing star forward Zion Williamson due to a hamstring injury, will aim to avoid elimination in Game 4 at home on Monday.
“It’s not the end,” Pelicans coach Willie Green emphasized to the team. “We have another chance to win at home. We won’t resolve all our issues tonight. Let’s regroup, practice tomorrow, address our areas of improvement, and prepare for the next game.”
It’s a tough task ahead. No NBA team has ever bounced back from a 3-0 series deficit. “You have to keep playing hard, no matter the score,” Giddey emphasized. “Both teams are fully focused on the task at hand.”
Brandon Ingram scored 19 points and CJ McCollum added 16 for the Pelicans, who struggled with their outside shooting and turnovers.
Despite their efforts, the Pelicans only slightly improved their 3-point shooting compared to the previous games, making just 28.1% of their attempts. They also committed 21 turnovers, leading to 23 points for the Thunder.
The game didn’t start well for the Thunder as Williams took a hit to the face from Ingram while attempting a shot. He left the court, but later returned in the first quarter.
The game remained close until the Thunder went on a 14-0 scoring spree in the second quarter, giving them a comfortable 54-39 lead.
“I think our turnovers hurt us,” mentioned Pelicans player Trey Murphy III, who contributed 10 points. “And then, they were just passing the ball well, and we had some defensive lapses. They were making their shots and taking advantage of our mistakes.”
When McCollum made a 3-pointer to reduce the Pelicans’ shortfall to 12 points, they had an opportunity to narrow the gap further in the closing moments of the first half. However, Gilgeous-Alexander stole the ball from McCollum and drew a foul.
Gilgeous-Alexander made both free throws, extending the Thunder’s lead to 60-46 heading into halftime.
