Oklahoma City Thunder outclasses New Orleans Pelicans, 106-85

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spearheaded a dominant and balanced performance by Oklahoma City in the game three win | Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

The top-seeded Thunder squeezed the life out of New Orleans and now has a chance to sweep.

Oklahoma City won all four quarters this afternoon and leveraged a 37-27 second period to get and stay up on New Orleans to preserve the win and a 3-0 series lead. The Thunder made 17 of 36 (47%) from behind the arc to put themselves safely in front of the Pelicans over the final 2+ quarters.

A Pelicans squad that was limited to 39 points in the second half was paced by Brandon Ingram (19 points) and CJ McCollum (16 points). The Thunder’s standout producers tonight were led by MVP-candidate Shai Gilgeious-Alexander (24 points, 8 assists, and 4 steals) and support from Jalen Williams (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Josh Giddey (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists). Chet Holmgren turned away four attempts, and Luguentz Dort, primarily assigned to Ingram, succeeded in keeping Ingram to less than his usual 20+ points.

The first period was a ragged and choppy affair for both teams. The Pelicans jumped out ahead momentarily with Ingram and Valanciunas, and Oklahoma City shared the ball excellently in the halfcourt to make up the deficit just quickly. The teams put up a mere 22 points together in eight minutes of action. New Orlean’s scoring drought extended for much of the frame and, despite a McCollum runner, they left it down 19-23.

Oklahoma City’s defense ratcheted up the pressure in the second period and made some critical stops against the Pelicans’ drivers. The contributions of Nance, Jr., Jones, and Murphy III, helped keep New Orleans within striking distance. Noticeably absent from the scoresheet until late in the quarter was McCollum who had two late buckets. Two free throws from Gilgeous-Alexander enabled the Thunder to go into the half comfortably ahead 60-46.

Oklahoma City’s speed essentially played Valanciunas off the floor and Nance, Jr. excelled as a facilitator for the Pelicans in the third. Despite McCollum and Ingram discovering some needed offense, New Orleans was not able to come close than ten in the period however. After some fruitless moments, a hail of threes allowed the Thunder to finish the tough quarter ahead 85-69.

Observations

Every NBA big has or needs a go-to move. Valanciunas bodies you into the stanchion. Sabonis bodies you with the ball and his heft. Adebayo has the workings of a post game. Zion Williamson will need something like a floater or a turnaround (short) jumper before all is said and done. He’s too big to be doing power dribbles over 40+ minutes a game.
It looks like Dort is one of the few players to have figured out Ingram’s slithery game.
Jose Alvarado trying to body up the much larger muscular Dort was fun to see for the little while that it happened.
Two things OKC does really well: hound people on the perimeter and box out for defensive rebounds.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen McCollum look this spooked as he has in these recent games.
The seeding matters: OKC lost all four games to the Lakers in the regular season, but makes quick work of the Pelicans in the playoffs.
Per TNT analyst Reggie Miller, there is a new big for OKC named “Chef Homegrumb” or “Chip Holmgrun”
Jalen Williams suffered an eye injury in the first minute. The Thunder’s first bucket came from Gilgeous-Alexander more than 2 ¹⁄₂ minutes in, but then they assisted well on the next several baskets. McCollum couldn’t get a shot to go down, but Isaiah Joe saw his third three attempt go down. The other Williams – Jaylin – knocked down a wing three to put Oklahoma City up five. Nance, Jr’s corner three was the first bucket in some time for New Orleans. Alvarado drew a second foul on Gilgeous-Alexander late in the period ,but the Thunder finished the quarter up four.
Josh Giddey uncorked a vintage Manu solo fast-break to start the second period by going behind his back and eurostepping to a layup. Nance, Jr. bolstered the Pelicans’ lineup with his hustle and nose for the ball. Giddey’s three was answered by a couple of Herb Jones baskets. A parade of threes from Gilgeous-Alexander (1) and Dort (3) made it a 60-46 game for Oklahoma City at the half.
Coming out of the break, Nance, Jr. (replacing Valanciunas) assisted on the first two Pelicans field goals. Giddey’s three put Oklahoma city briefly up 16. Gilgeous-Alexander had a pass swiped from him by Ingram, didn’t give up, and then stole it at the other end and floated easily in for a transition lay-up. Holmgren swatted away a Jones dunk attempt like a boss. Wing threes from Jalen Williams and Joe from nearly the same spot knocked New Orleans back and Oklahoma City went into the fourth up 19.
Threes from Jalen Williams and Giddey provided enough buffering to stifle any thought of a Pelicans comeback.

Game 4 of this first round series takes place in New Orleans on Monday at an unspecified time pending the other ongoing matchups going on this weekend.