Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) in the second half of Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in New Orleans, Saturday, April 27, 2024. The Thunder won 106-85. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

NEW ORLEANS — Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams was on his knees after being hit hard in the eye on the opening possession of a crucial playoff game.

In the third quarter, Williams was draining a pair of 3-pointers during a 9-0 run that left the New Orleans Pelicans reeling.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points, Williams and Josh Giddey each had 21 and the Thunder defeated the Pelicans 106-85 on Saturday to take a 3-0 lead in their first-round NBA playoff series.

“Dub is very talented,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Williams, who averaged about 20 points in the series and scored 13 points in Game 3 in the second half. “He was clearly big tonight, very impressive and nothing we’re not used to.”

The first-place Thunder entered the playoffs answering many questions about the relative youth and inexperience of their roster — and that seemed vindicated after a two-point escape at home in Game 1 against the eighth-seeded Pelicans.

READ: NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder lead 2-0 against Pelicans

Since then, the Thunder have posted margins of victory of 32 in Game 2 and 21 in Game 3, largely because of a relentless defensive effort that has held the Pelicans to 92 or fewer points in all three games of the series.

“We were ready to play,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Our physicality again, our defense and focus on that end of the court was very, very good, it made them win everything. And I thought that set the tone.”

Oklahoma City shot 17 of 36 (47.2%) from 3-point range and maintained a lead of 10 points or more throughout the second half, growing as many as 24 in the fourth quarter. At this point, a contingent of Thunder fans could be heard chanting, “OKC! OK!” as New Orleans fans filed out.

“We adapted very well to the flow of the game. We look good,” Giddey said. “They gave us a lot of different looks, but we have a lot of weapons on the ground all the time. So the guys made the right play, the extra pass.”

The Pelicans, who were without forward Zion Williamson during the series because of a hamstring injury, will try to avoid elimination at home in Game 4 on Monday night.

“It’s not over,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said of his message to the team. “Look, we have another game here at home and we are not going to solve all our problems tonight. Go home, have a good meal and we’ll come back (Sunday) to train and go over what we need to do and get ready for the next game.”

History is not on their side. No team in NBA history has recovered from a 3-0 series deficit.

“You can’t take your foot off the gas no matter what the lead is in a series,” Giddey said. “Neither team considers this series over.”

READ: NBA Playoffs: Thunder, Celtics hope to see different Pelicans, Heat

Brandon Ingram scored 19 points and CJ McCollum had 16 for New Orleans, which struggled to rebound from the perimeter and take care of the ball.

The Pelicans, who shot just 27.7% from 3-point range during the first two games of the series combined, improved only marginally in their return home, shooting 28.1% (9 of 32). New Orleans also turned the ball over 21 times, leading to 23 Thunder points.

The game started ominously for the Thunder when Williams took a forearm to the face from Ingram while attempting a floater and fell to his knees.

No foul was called for the collision, which sent Williams to the locker room for much of the first quarter before he returned late in the period.

The game was competitive until the Thunder went up 14-0 in the second quarter, giving Oklahoma City a 54-39 lead.

The surge started with a 3 from Gilgeous-Alexander before Lu Dort hit a three straight from deep.

“I’m sure turning the ball over didn’t help,” said Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III, who scored 10 points. “So they were moving the ball really well and we had some defensive breakdowns. They were hitting shots and capitalizing on our mistakes.”


Unable to save your signature. Please try again.


Your subscription was successful.

After McCollum's 3 cut the Pelicans' deficit to 12, they had a chance to get closer in the final seconds of the half, but Gilgeous-Alexander stole the ball from McCollum and was fouled.

Gilgeous-Alexander hit two free throws to give the Thunder a 60-46 halftime lead.



Source

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR