In a key matchup in the NBA playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder challenged the New Orleans Pelicans away and finally defeated the Pelicans with a score of 106-85 to win the game. The result of this game means that the Thunder have already taken an absolute 3-0 lead in the series and are only one step away from advancing to the next round. The Thunder showed strong overall strength and tenacity when they faced the Pelicans playing at home on the road.
In the Oklahoma City Thunder's away game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Thunder player Shay Gilgeous-Alexander performed well and became a key figure in the team's victory. Alexander played 36 minutes and finished with 24 points, five rebounds, eight assists, four steals and one block on 8-of-20 shooting, including 1-of-5 three-pointers and 7-of-9 free throws.
Alexander showed a well-rounded attacking skill in the game. Not only is he able to shoot three-pointers from the outside, but he can also provide a consistent firepower output for the team through breakouts and inside scoring. He also shot a respectable percentage from the free-throw line, showing his consistency on the offensive end.
Defensively, Alexander was equally impressive. He contributed four steals and one block, successfully limiting the play of the Pelicans' core players and laying the foundation for the Thunder's victory. In addition to his outstanding performances on both ends of the floor, Alexander also played a key role in organizing the attack. His eight assists did a good job of linking up the team's offense and creating plenty of scoring opportunities for his teammates.
It is worth mentioning that in the statistics of the series, Chet Holmgren's block stats are particularly eye-catching. So far, Holmgren has contributed 11 blocks individually, compared to 10 for the Pelicans as a team. This means that Holmgren has already had more blocks alone than the entire opposing team.
Also, in the series, CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram's shooting efficiency have attracted much attention. According to media statistics, as of now, the two players have shot 33.4% from the field and 25.9% from three-point range. This data shows that both players were relatively inefficient in shooting in the series. Although both were important scorers for their respective teams, their shooting performance did not live up to expectations during this time.