Thunder vs Pelicans
The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and the Thunder are at home to face off against the Pelicans. The OKC finished No. 1 in the West, while New Orleans went through two play-in rounds to secure an eighth-place playoff ticket. In this game, Zion Williamson continues to miss the game due to injury, Murphy, Ingram, CJ McCollum, Valanciunas and Jones are the starters, and the Thunder's starting five are Alexander, Jalen Williams, Holmgren, Keady and Dort. The two strong teams staged a wonderful offensive and defensive battle in this battle.
Alexander 28+6+4, Thunder narrowly beat Pelicans!Wallan 13+20, McCollum missed!
Full game review
At the beginning of the first quarter, Holmgren scored from the outside, Valanciunas hit a low-post strong attack, CJ and Jalen Williams each scored on a layup, and Alexander hit a single shot. Jones scored from the outside, Valanciunas scored on the inside, and CJ and Alexander battled from mid-range.
Valanciunas singled Holmgren
The two sides hit consecutive outside shots, Alexander scored a layup, and Jones hit 2 free throws to color. Alexander made 1 of 2 free throws, Dort scored from the outside, Ingram hit a single, Alvarado scored on a layup, and Alexander scored in the low post. At the end of the first quarter, the two teams were tied at 17.
In the second quarter, Jalen Williams and CJ each scored from mid-range, Murphy hit two three-pointers, Holmgren hit a jumper, and CJ responded with a long-range shot. Wallace and Holmgren scored points on the inside one after another, Jalen Williams hit 2+1, and the Thunder played a 7-0 offensive to tie the score. Marshall and Wiggins exchanged three-pointers, Marshall dunked, and Jalen Williams scored on a jumper to color.
Murphy makes a three-pointer
Ingram scored a layup, Jaylin Williams answered a three-pointer, and Ingram and Alexander made two free throws each. Holmgren blocked Ingram, Nance Jr. scored under the basket and returned the color, Isaiah Joe scored on a rebound, Ingram scored on a jumper, CJ sent a big hat, Wallace scored from the outside, Valanciunas scored from mid-range. At half-time, the two sides were tied at 43.
In the first half, Ingram had 8 points and 3 rebounds, Murphy had 6 points and 3 rebounds, Valanciunas had 6 points and 10 rebounds, Herbert Jones had 5 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, McCollum had 9 points and 2 assists, Alvarado had 2 points, and Marshall had 5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Jalen Williams had 9 points and 2 rebounds, Holmgren had 7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks, Keady had 2 rebounds and 3 assists, Alexander had 11 points and 4 rebounds, and Carson Wallace had 5 points.
Alexander singles Jones
In the rematch, Valanciunas hit a throw, Dort scored from the outside, Jalen Williams and Ingram fought in the middle distance, Murphy hit from the outside, and the Thunder called a timeout. Jalen Williams scored from the outside, Alexander and Holmgren scored under the basket one after another, Alexander scored a jumper, Keady hit the penalty area, and OKC blasted an 11-0 offensive run.
CJ hit a board, Murphy hit a long-range shot, and the Pelicans scored five points in a row to stabilize the situation. Alexander made 2 free throws, Murphy and Jalen Williams battled inside, and Alexandre and Murphy each scored on a jumper. Nance Jr. made a rebound, Alvarado hit a long shot, Nance Jr. scored a hook shot, and the Pelicans responded with a 9-0 attack. Kenrich Williams and Alexander hit the inside one after another, and CJ hit a single shot. Jalen Williams threw in, Isaiah Joe hit a long shot, and the Thunder went on a 9-2 run. At the end of the third quarter, the Thunder led 74-68.
Ingram singles Jalen Williams
In the final quarter, Holmgren and Valanciunas fought in the low post, Wiggins hit 2+1, and Valanciunas hit 2 free throws in color. Holmgren scored from the outside, and the Thunder took a 10-point lead. Valanciunas made 1 of 2 free throws, Murphy and CJ scored from the outside one after another, and the two teams hit iron in a row, Murphy made a basket, and the Pelicans responded with a 9-0 offense.
Jaylin Williams hit a three-pointer, CJ scored on a jumper, Jalen Williams hit 1 of 2 free throws, and Nance Jr. returned the color with a dunk. The two sides missed consecutive errors and missed shots, Jones hit a long-range shot, and the Pelicans tied the score. Nance Jr. steals, Ingram counters for a layup, and OKC calls a timeout. Alexander missed two consecutive turnovers and then missed a long-range shot, the Thunder fell into a scoring drought, and the OKC challenge failed, and the Pelicans won the ball.
Little Nance buckled
The game entered the white-hot stage, Holmgren blocked Nance Jr.'s dunk, and Dort missed the layup. Alexander and Ingram each fouled, and Alexander scored on a jumper to break the Thunder's five-minute scoring drought. The Pelicans grabbed 4 frontcourt rebounds in a row, but they couldn't make consecutive long-range shots, Holmgren blocked Nance Jr., Alexander hit 2+1, and the Thunder led by 3 points. With just 32 seconds left in the final game, the Pelicans called a timeout. CJ hit a jumper, Holmgren hit 1 of 2 free throws, and the Pelicans called a timeout again. McCollum missed a three-pointer, and in the end, the Thunder narrowly won 94-92 and rejected the comeback. OKC has a 1-0 lead, and the G2 duel between the two sides is still being played at the home of the Thunder.
Holmgren had 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 blocks, and delivered consecutive big hats at the decisive moment, making a great contribution to the victory. Dort had 6 points and 4 rebounds, Jalen Williams showed all-around skills with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, Keady had 2 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, Carson Wallace had 5 points, Wiggins had 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, Isaiah Joe had 5 points and 2 rebounds, and Jaylin Williams had 6 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.
Holmgren guards the basket
Ingram had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists on 5-of-17 shooting and was not efficient on the offensive end. Murphy had 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks, and went on a rampage on both offensive and defensive ends. Herbert Jones was 2-of-10 with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, Alvarado scored 5 points, and Nance Jr. led the team to tie the score in the final quarter with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 1 steal, but was blocked in the decisive moment, and Marshall had 5 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
Alexander 28+6+4
Alexander, the Thunder's backcourt star, performed well in this game. Alexander played 39 minutes, shooting 11-of-24, 0-of-3 from three-point range, 6-of-7 from the free-throw line, and blasting 28 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Alexander scored the highest score of the game, was also the team's assist leader, and also made outstanding contributions in rebounding protection.
Thunder Alexander
Alexander shot 1-of-6 from the field in the final quarter and made a series of turnovers. However, at the decisive moment, Alexander scored 5 points in a row, led the team to overtake the score, and withstood the opponent's counterattack for the Thunder. Alexander's last-minute scoring streak also completed the redemption.
Varan 13+20
Pelicans interior big man Valanciunas went berserk in this game. Varan played 29 minutes, 5-of-9, 3-of-4 from the free-throw line, and blasted 13 points, 20 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
Valanciunas attacked on the inside
As the rebounding champion of this game, Wallan's 9 frontcourt boards also topped the game. Valanciunas, who was strong at both ends of the pitch, showed the instinct to be a big killer in the low post. Valanciunas had done his best, but he was still defeated.
McCollum misses the stunner
Pelicans backcourt star CJ McCollum played 39 minutes, 9-of-22 from the field, 2-of-9 from three-point range, and finished with 20 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. CJ scored the second highest score on the team and was also the assist king of the game. McCollum juggled scoring and tandem with the team, and he also had a crucial highlight in the final moments.
McCollum hits the basket
However, in the decisive moment of the game, McCollum missed a three-pointer, causing the balance of victory to tip in his opponent's favor. Unable to reverse and upset his opponent, CJ can only drink hate.