Thunder vs Pelicans recap: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC roll to 2-0 series lead in NBA playoffs

Joel Lorenzi, Justin Martinez, Jordan Davis, Jeff Patterson and Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman

Chet Holmgren may technically still be an NBA rookie, but he's well aware of the emotional gaps between games.

The Thunder will attempt to go up 2-0 on the Pelicans on Wednesday night in the first round of the NBA playoffs, but OKC could have easily been facing an 0-1 hole had CJ McCollum made a last-second 3-pointer Sunday night in New Orleans' 94-92 loss at Paycom Center.

“Having an understanding that the difference between being satisfied with Game 1 and not satisfied is McCollum hitting that shot at the end," Holmgren said after practice Wednesday morning. "We can’t let that be who we are. Whether he makes or misses that shot, we have to come in here and get better at what we need to get better at.”

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Thunder vs. Pelicans live score updates of Game 2 in NBA playoffs

More: Why it's a 'blessing' for New Orleans' Willie Green to coach against OKC's Mark Daigneault

Thunder vs. Pelicans highlights of Game 2 in NBA playoffs

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Final: Thunder 124, Pelicans 92 | OKC takes 2-0 lead on New Orleans in NBA playoffs

Thunder collect a convincing 124-92 Game 2 win. Shot 59% from the field and 48.3% from deep (and even better before garbage time). Things turned ugly real fast. Just constant drive-and-kick barrage that buried Pels with their TOs. Chet with 26 pts (9 for 13). Shai 33 pts, 13/19.

Game 3 is 2:30 p.m. Saturday in New Orleans.

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

More: Mussatto: Chet Holmgren sets tone vs. Jonas Valanciunas in OKC Thunder rout of Pelicans

End 3Q: Thunder 92, Pelicans 74 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC rolling

Thunder ahead 92-74 after 3. Been quite a few offensive fouls on the Pels. I’m sure every one isn’t accurate, but OKC has a pretty good of eliminating air space, making it a problem to create separation. Good Shai quarter. Ingram got going in the 3rd though. 12 pts (2/6, 6 fts).

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

Half: Thunder 63, Pelicans 50 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder are 24 minutes away from a 2-0 series lead

OKC shooting 59.5% from the field and 10 for 1& from 3. Chet and Shai on one. Combined 36 points on 14-of-21 shooting. Thunder ball movement began picking Pels apart midway thru 2nd. Ingram has taken two shots in 17 mins.

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

Another Thunder fan makes a halfcourt shot for $20K

Thunder fans are 2-for-2 in the playoffs on the $20,000 halfcourt shot, a promotional from MidFirst Bank.

It was 23-year-old Jaylen O'Conner in Game 1, and 26-year-old Eli Walch in Game 2.

Walch, a nurse, told the Thunder that he will use the money for his wedding in 2026.

—Joe Mussatto, Staff writer

End 1Q: Thunder 35, Pelicans 22 | Chet Holmgren has OKC rolling in Game 2

Thunder leads 35-22 after 1. Chet’s on one. He’s got 15. Him and Jonas going shot for shot. Shai doing the first quarter thing down the stretch, showing off some wild touch and angles with very little room. OKC shooting 63.6% from 3. Pels went without a FG for the final 3:57.

—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer

Late 1Q: Thunder 30, Pelicans 20 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is heating up

Shai held up the prayer hands after making that 3-pointer, almost as if to say “thank you.” He had gone 0 for 14 from deep in OKC’s last three games. SGA has seven points.

—Justin Martinez, Staff writer

More: Why do OKC Thunder fans bark like dogs? Credit Jalen Williams, Loud City

Why do they call it Loud City for OKC Thunder games?

Well, just listen to the embedded tweet.

Paycom Center has been rocking for an hour. Thunder fans are going to test the decibel rating system here tonight.

—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer

Pelicans coach Willie Green harps on the significance of late-game execution in Game 2

The final minutes of Sunday night's Game 1 exhibited a rock fight between both teams in Paycom Center.

Although the Pelicans sparked a 7-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, they struggled to find a way to put OKC away for good. New Orleans provided consistent refunds on shots as they clawed their way to grab six offensive rebounds in the final minutes.

Yet, the Pelicans shot just 1-for-7 from the field on those looks in the final 3:34 of regulation. The stretch proved crucial as the Thunder emerged victorious in the 94-92 win in the series' opening game.

"The biggest thing for us was fourth quarter turnovers — we had seven," Pelicans head coach Willie Green said. "We can't give a good team that many opportunities to cut to capitalize, and we did that."

The Pelicans keenly felt the absence of star Zion Williamson, who typically contributes nearly six points per fourth quarter. This is evident in their rank 26th in fourth quarter point differential in the NBA for the 2023-24 season.

With Williamson's absence being a glaring concern for the Pelicans' late game offense, Green is keen on remaining composed in the clutch.

"We just have to have more poise," Green said. "Get us in some sets and execute them. When we did, we actually got quality looks. We didn't capitalize on all of them, but cutting down on the turnovers and having more poise is important."

—Jordan Davis, Staff writer

OKC’s Mark Daigneault expects both teams to ‘play better’ in Game 2

Neither team played its best basketball when OKC earned a 94-92 home win over New Orleans in Game 1 on Sunday.

The Thunder shot just 43.5% from the floor, and it scored fewer than 100 points for the first time since March 10. Meanwhile, the Pelicans shot 38.5% from the floor and committed seven turnovers in the fourth quarter alone.

Maybe OKC can chalk it up to having a six-day break leading up to the game. Maybe New Orleans can chalk it up to being fresh off a two-game play-in run.

Regardless, OKC head coach Mark Daigneault expects both teams to be sharper in Game 2 on Wednesday.

“We got our feet underneath us the other night,” Daigneault said. “I would expect both teams to play better tonight than they did the other night, especially offensively. … I have great confidence in our guys.”

—Justin Martinez, Staff writer

Game 2: How to watch OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans

  • Date: Wednesday, April 24

  • Time: 8:30 p.m. CT

  • TV: Bally Sports Oklahoma, TNT/TruTV

  • Live Stream: Fubo (watch for free)

More: Mussatto: OKC Thunder shows it has bark in tight Game 1 win over New Orleans Pelicans

Injury report for OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans

OKC Thunder injury report

None

New Orleans Pelicans injury report

Zion Williamson (hamstring strain) is out.

More: Brandon Ingram struggles, Trey Murphy III shines as Pelicans fall to Thunder in Game 1

Projected OKC Thunder starting lineup

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.2 APG)

  • Josh Giddey (12.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 4.8 APG)

  • Lu Dort (10.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 APG)

  • Jalen Williams (19.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.5 APG)

  • Chet Holmgren (16.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.4 APG)

More: OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA MVP finalist

Projected New Orleans Pelicans starting lineup

  • CJ McCollum (20 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.6 APG)

  • Herb Jones (11 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1 APG)

  • Trey Murphy III (14.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 APG)

  • Brandon Ingram (20.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.7 APG)

  • Jonas Valanciunas (12.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.1 APG)

More: How the OKC Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans match up in NBA playoffs

OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans playoff series schedule

  • Game 1:OKC 94, New Orleans 92

  • Game 2: At 8:30 p.m. Wednesday (TNT) in OKC

  • Game 3: At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27 (TNT) in New Orleans

  • Game 4: TBD Monday, April 29 in New Orleans

  • Game 5 (If necessary): TBD Wednesday, May 1 in OKC

  • Game 6 (If necessary): TBD Friday, May 3 in New Orleans

  • Game 7 (If necessary): TBD Sunday, May 5 in OKC

More: How to buy OKC Thunder tickets for 2024 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center

OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans regular-season series record

OKC won the regular-season series, 2-1. The Thunder won the final two meetings by an average of 15.5 points.

More: How did Lu Dort create havoc on Brandon Ingram in Thunder's Game 1 win vs. Pelicans?

OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA playoffs Game 2 betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday, April 24

  • Spread: OKC (-7.5)

  • Over/under: 211.5

  • Moneyline: OKC -350 | New Orleans +260

More: Mussatto: Think Mark Daigneault will shorten Thunder rotation in playoffs? Think again.

2024 NBA playoffs

Play-in tournament picks: Lakers at Pelicans | Warriors at Kings | Heat at 76ers | Hawks at Bulls | Kings at Pelicans | Bulls at Heat

First-round picks: Celtics vs Heat | Knicks vs 76ers | Bucks vs Pacers | Cavaliers vs Magic | Thunder vs Pelicans | Nuggets vs Lakers | Timberwolves vs Suns | Clippers vs Mavericks

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder vs Pelicans recap: OKC takes 2-0 series lead in NBA playoffs

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