Thunder overcome playoff inexperience in Sport 1 win vs. Pelicans

OKLAHOMA CITY — Getting into the playoffs, the Thunder have been the youngest NBA staff to safe a No. 1 seed since seeding started in 1984.

After lacking the playoffs the previous three seasons and dealing on a rebuild, the Thunder’s reward as the highest seed within the sturdy Western Convention was going through the 49-win New Orleans Pelicans, who needed to struggle by means of the play-in match but in addition boasted a league-best report on the street.

Seven of the 11 Thunder gamers who took the ground Sunday night time have been competing of their first playoff recreation. The relative inexperience confirmed itself at instances within the fourth quarter, however the staff additionally got here by means of when it most wanted to.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put the Thunder up on a three-point play with 32.5 seconds remaining in regulation, whereas rookies Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace got here up with huge defensive performs to assist Oklahoma Metropolis safe a 94-92 win in Sport 1 of the first-round playoff sequence.

“Everyone that got here in performed their function,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “They gave good minutes. All 11 guys did their half, and that is the rationale why we gained tonight.”

After Gilgeous-Alexander tied the rating at 90 with 1:36 to go, the Pelicans’ ensuing possession featured 4 shot makes an attempt and three offensive rebounds — however no factors, thanks to 1 remaining cease by Holmgren.

Pelicans heart Larry Nance Jr. rolled to the rim and tried to get a shot over the outstretched arms of Holmgren, however the rookie met the ball at its apex to report his fifth block of the night time.

“I used to be simply attempting to make a play,” Holmgren mentioned. “I did not need to depart issues within the arms of the opposite staff, so I used to be attempting to go up and make a play, whether or not I used to be going to be late and it was going to be a goaltend or not.”

It was on the following possession that Gilgeous-Alexander gave the Thunder the lead for good.

The Pelicans answered with a fast basket on their subsequent possession, and Holmgren then hit one in every of two free throws to make it a two-point recreation.

With 14 seconds left, the Pelicans obtained the ball to CJ McCollum, and Wallace was switched on to him. McCollum misplaced the ball at first however was in a position to get it again; he then stepped by means of Wallace’s block try and let a shot go that regarded on line however hit the again of the rim.

“I believed it was money, and I missed it lengthy,” McCollum mentioned. “However the recreation should not have come right down to that.”

Each groups struggled to get going offensively early on. The sport was tied at 17 after the primary quarter and at 43 at halftime.

It was nonetheless probably the most hotly contested recreation of the NBA playoff weekend. There have been 20 lead adjustments as in comparison with 19 lead adjustments within the different seven video games mixed.

New Orleans took a 90-88 lead — the nineteenth of the sport — with 3:34 to go on a layup by Brandon Ingram however did not rating once more till there have been 26.5 seconds remaining. The Pelicans went 1-of-7 within the remaining 3:09 with 4 turnovers.

Oklahoma Metropolis held New Orleans to 38.5% capturing, and the Pelicans went simply 1-of-15 on nook 3-pointers.

It was a formidable begin for the No. 1 seed, however Thunder coach Mark Daigneault is aware of it is just the start.

“I simply advised the staff, and I feel it is true, these sequence are lengthy,” Daigneault mentioned. “It’s a must to enhance by means of the sequence, and that is our problem now. We obtained to look at the movie, be taught from it and be a greater staff on Wednesday than we have been tonight.”