|
 [April 13, 2023]
Josh Giddey recorded 31 points, 10 assists and nine 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 in a play-in game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 of his game-high 32 points in the
second half and Luguentz Dort added 27 points for the Thunder, who
will visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. The winner
will earn the No. 8 seed in the West and face the top-seeded Denver
Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
Brandon Ingram registered 30 points, seven assists and six rebounds
for the Pelicans, who were outscored by 11 points in the second
half. Trey Murphy III scored 21 points, Herbert Jones added 20 and
Jonas Valanciunas contributed 16 points and 18 rebounds for New
Orleans.
Oklahoma City went ahead to stay on Gilgeous-Alexander's basket with
28.3 seconds left. Gilgeous-Alexander tallied eight points in the
final 1:40.
Jalen Williams added 11 points for the Thunder, who shot 45.7
percent from the field, including 11 of 37 (29.7 percent) from
3-point range.
CJ McCollum added 14 points for New Orleans, which made 48.3 percent
of its shots and was 9 of 28 (32.1 percent) from behind the arc. The
Pelicans were again without oft-injured Zion Williamson, who hasn't
played since Jan. 2 due to a hamstring injury.
Ingram knocked down a 17-footer to give New Orleans a 114-112 lead
with 1:21 remaining. Oklahoma City's Jaylin Williams split two free
throws with 59.8 seconds left before McCollum missed a floater for
New Orleans with 37.9 seconds to play.
Gilgeous-Alexander then drove and lofted in the short shot to give
the Thunder a 115-114 edge. Ingram missed an 16-footer with 18.4
seconds left before Giddey made two free throws with 12 seconds
remaining.
[to top of second column] |
Apr 12, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana,
USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and
forward Jaylin Williams (6) attempt to keep guard Josh Giddey (3)
from getting near the New Orleans Pelicans after being run into on a
play during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory
Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Ingram split two free throws with 10.4 seconds left
to bring the Pelicans within two. Dort made two free throws with 6.2
seconds left before Ingram buried a 3-pointer to cut the New Orleans
deficit to 119-118 with 4.3 seconds left.
Gilgeous-Alexander made four free throws in the final 2.8 seconds
left to seal it.
The Thunder trailed by six at halftime before Gilgeous-Alexander
scored 17 points in the third quarter. Oklahoma City outscored the
Pelicans 39-24 in the period.
The Thunder led 96-87 entering the final stanza before 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 each scored 15 first-half points as the Pelicans
led 63-57 at the break. Dort had 20 in the half for Oklahoma City.
--Field Level Media
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