Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 28 points as top-seeded Thunder edge Pelicans 94-92 in Game 1
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Hours after the NBA announced Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was selected as a finalist for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, Oklahoma City's All-Star guard showed why.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, including the go-ahead basket in the final minute, and the top-seeded Thunder edged the New Orleans Pelicans 94-92 in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series Sunday night.
New Orleans' CJ McCollum missed a leaning 3-pointer in the closing seconds and the Thunder held on to win their first home playoff game since 2019.
“I thought we showed great grit down the stretch," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "Obviously, that was a tight game. It was a bit of a brawl for both teams offensively. And we made plays defensively down the stretch - big time plays - and had the resolve to go in and win the game.”
Jalen Williams scored 19 points and Chet Holmgren added 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks for the Thunder, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday night.
Trey Murphy III scored 21 points, McCollum had 20 and Jonas Valanciunas added 13 points and 20 rebounds for the Pelicans. Zion Williamson, New Orleans’ leading scorer in the regular season, sat out with a strained left hamstring.
Gilgeous-Alexander made an off-balance jumper in the paint with 32.5 seconds left to break a 90-all tie and was fouled on the play. With the crowd chanting “M-V-P!” Gilgeous-Alexander made the free throw to put Oklahoma City ahead 93-90.
“I set a screen on the ball," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "And they switched on Dub (Williams). And then I just caught the ball at the elbow and just tried to be aggressive and make a play that I’ve made before.”
McCollum's mid-range jumper made it 93-92.
Holmgren was fouled with 14 seconds left. He missed the first free throw and made the second to put the Thunder ahead 94-92 and set up McCollum's final shot. Thunder rookie Cason Wallace forced him to scramble and take a difficult shot.
“I got the switch," McCollum said. "I should have attacked a little earlier, a little faster. But credit, it was good defense. ... I thought it was cash and I missed it long.”
The energy from the Oklahoma City fans - most wearing white Thunder T-shirts - was off the charts, and Holmgren brought them to a fever pitch by opening the scoring with a 3-pointer.
“It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "They were exactly what I expected. ... They were perfect.”
The game was tied at 17 at the end of the first quarter and tied at 43 at halftime. The Thunder held New Orleans to 34% shooting in the first half, but missed a lot of open shots. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 points before the break.
New Orleans led 50-48 in the third quarter before the Thunder went on an 11-0 run over a three-minute span that put them up 59-50.
New Orleans recovered to briefly take the lead, but Oklahoma City closed the third quarter strong. Isaiah Joe hit a 3-pointer with 6.6 seconds left in the quarter to put the Thunder up 74-68 heading into the fourth.
New Orleans missed several opportunities to seize control in the final quarter.
“We had quality shots coming down the stretch that we just didn’t make, and it came down to the final play," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. "Our guys fought all night. Defense was solid. Game plan was executed at a high level. We’ve got to knock down some shots.”
It was a defensive battle between teams that both averaged more than 115 points in the regular season.
“This is what it’s going to be,” Green said. “We’re physical with them, they’re physical with us and that’s a part of the game. That’s a part of playoff basketball.”
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jonas Valanciunas vs. Chet Holmgren (Brandon Ingram gains possession) | |||
11:35 | Brandon Ingram misses two point jump shot | |||
11:31 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
11:26 | Josh Giddey turnover (bad pass) (Herbert Jones steals) | |||
11:22 | Chet Holmgren blocks Herbert Jones's two point running layup | |||
11:20 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
11:07 | +3 | Chet Holmgren makes three point jump shot (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander assists) | 0-3 | |
10:44 | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 2-3 | |
10:29 | Chet Holmgren misses two point alley-oop layup | |||
10:27 | Herbert Jones defensive rebound | |||
10:15 | Jonas Valanciunas offensive foul (Chet Holmgren draws the foul) | |||
10:15 | Jonas Valanciunas turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:07 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point driving finger roll layup | 2-5 | |
9:55 | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point driving layup | 4-5 | |
9:36 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point pullup bank jump shot (Chet Holmgren assists) | 4-7 | |
9:20 | +3 | Herbert Jones makes three point jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 7-7 | |
9:09 | Jalen Williams misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
9:08 | Trey Murphy III defensive rebound | |||
9:00 | Trey Murphy III misses two point floating jump shot | |||
8:56 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
8:49 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
8:45 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
8:40 | Luguentz Dort personal foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | |||
8:29 | Brandon Ingram misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
8:25 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
8:16 | Chet Holmgren misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
8:15 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
8:11 | CJ McCollum misses three point running jump shot | |||
8:07 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
7:59 | Josh Giddey misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
7:55 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
7:50 | CJ McCollum misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
7:47 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
7:31 | Jalen Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
7:29 | Trey Murphy III defensive rebound | |||
7:19 | Herbert Jones misses two point driving layup | |||
7:15 | Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound | |||
7:15 | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point putback dunk | 9-7 | |
7:08 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
7:05 | CJ McCollum defensive rebound | |||
6:48 | Jalen Williams personal foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | |||
6:48 | Thunder 60 second timeout | |||
6:33 | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point pullup jump shot | 11-7 | |
6:19 | Chet Holmgren turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
6:08 | Herbert Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
6:04 | Josh Giddey defensive rebound | |||
5:45 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point stepback jump shot | 11-9 | |
5:23 | Herbert Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
5:20 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
5:12 | Chet Holmgren misses two point finger roll layup | |||
5:10 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
5:06 | Josh Giddey blocks CJ McCollum's two point running layup | |||
5:06 | Thunder defensive rebound | |||
4:52 | Chet Holmgren misses three point jump shot | |||
4:48 | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | |||
4:35 | Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot | |||
4:31 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
4:20 | Jalen Williams turnover (lost ball) (Jose Alvarado steals) | |||
4:12 | Trey Murphy III misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
4:10 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
4:02 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point driving layup | 11-11 | |
3:45 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander personal foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | |||
3:35 | Jose Alvarado misses three point jump shot | |||
3:33 | Herbert Jones offensive rebound | |||
3:33 | Kenrich Williams shooting foul (Herbert Jones draws the foul) | |||
3:33 | +1 | Herbert Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-11 | |
3:33 | +1 | Herbert Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-11 | |
3:21 | Trey Murphy III personal foul (Isaiah Joe draws the foul) | |||
3:09 | Brandon Ingram shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
3:09 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:09 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
3:09 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-12 | |
2:47 | Brandon Ingram misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:44 | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | |||
2:40 | +3 | Luguentz Dort makes three point running pullup jump shot (Gordon Hayward assists) | 13-15 | |
2:11 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point turnaround jump shot | 15-15 | |
2:00 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
1:58 | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | |||
1:48 | +2 | Jose Alvarado makes two point driving floating jump shot | 17-15 | |
1:33 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
1:31 | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | |||
1:24 | Herbert Jones misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:20 | Gordon Hayward defensive rebound | |||
1:15 | Kenrich Williams misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:12 | Herbert Jones defensive rebound | |||
1:04 | Larry Nance Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Gordon Hayward steals) | |||
0:57 | +2 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes two point running layup | 17-17 | |
0:57 | Pelicans 60 second timeout | |||
0:35 | Jose Alvarado misses two point floating jump shot | |||
0:31 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
0:22 | Kenrich Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
0:19 | Naji Marshall defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:49 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point pullup jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 17-19 | |
11:47 | Pelicans 60 second timeout | |||
11:25 | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point pullup jump shot (Naji Marshall assists) | 19-19 | |
11:09 | Cason Wallace misses three point jump shot | |||
11:06 | Trey Murphy III defensive rebound | |||
10:59 | CJ McCollum misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:56 | Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound | |||
10:54 | +3 | Trey Murphy III makes three point jump shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 22-19 | |
10:41 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point turnaround jump shot (Josh Giddey assists) | 22-21 | |
10:20 | Jose Alvarado misses three point jump shot | |||
10:18 | Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound | |||
10:15 | Chet Holmgren blocks Trey Murphy III's two point driving layup | |||
10:15 | Pelicans offensive rebound | |||
10:13 | CJ McCollum misses three point jump shot | |||
10:10 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
10:04 | Josh Giddey turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
9:48 | Trey Murphy III misses two point floating jump shot | |||
9:44 | Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound | |||
9:41 | +3 | Trey Murphy III makes three point jump shot (Jose Alvarado assists) | 25-21 | |
9:21 | Jalen Williams misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
9:18 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
9:08 | +3 | CJ McCollum makes three point jump shot (Naji Marshall assists) | 28-21 | |
8:48 | +2 | Cason Wallace makes two point layup (Josh Giddey assists) | 28-23 | |
8:26 | CJ McCollum misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:24 | Chet Holmgren defensive rebound | |||
8:16 | +2 | Chet Holmgren makes two point reverse layup (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 28-25 | |
8:02 | Jose Alvarado misses three point jump shot | |||
7:59 | Jalen Williams defensive rebound | |||
7:55 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point running layup | 28-27 | |
7:55 | Trey Murphy III shooting foul (Jalen Williams draws the foul) | |||
7:55 | +1 | Jalen Williams makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 28-28 | |
7:43 | +3 | Naji Marshall makes three point jump shot (CJ McCollum assists) | 31-28 | |
7:23 | +3 | Aaron Wiggins makes three point jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 31-31 | |
7:05 | CJ McCollum misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
7:01 | Naji Marshall offensive rebound | |||
7:01 | +2 | Naji Marshall makes two point tip dunk | 33-31 | |
6:45 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
6:43 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
6:43 | Jose Alvarado kicked ball violation | |||
6:41 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
6:37 | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | |||
6:25 | Naji Marshall misses three point jump shot | |||
6:22 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
6:17 | Jalen Williams turnover (lost ball) (Jonas Valanciunas steals) | |||
6:02 | Naji Marshall misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
6:00 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
5:50 | +2 | Jalen Williams makes two point pullup jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 33-33 | |
5:35 | Naji Marshall misses three point jump shot | |||
5:32 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
5:14 | Luguentz Dort misses three point jump shot | |||
5:12 | Naji Marshall defensive rebound | |||
5:07 | Pelicans 60 second timeout | |||
4:58 | Brandon Ingram misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:54 | Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
4:44 | Isaiah Joe misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:41 | Herbert Jones defensive rebound | |||
4:36 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point running layup (Herbert Jones assists) | 35-33 | |
4:17 | +3 | Jaylin Williams makes three point jump shot (Aaron Wiggins assists) | 35-36 | |
3:58 | Luguentz Dort shooting foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | |||
3:58 | +1 | Brandon Ingram makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-36 | |
3:58 | +1 | Brandon Ingram makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-36 | |
3:39 | Larry Nance Jr. shooting foul (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws the foul) | |||
3:39 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-37 | |
3:39 | +1 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-38 | |
3:23 | Chet Holmgren blocks Brandon Ingram's two point layup | |||
3:23 | Pelicans offensive rebound | |||
3:16 | +2 | Larry Nance Jr. makes two point cutting dunk (CJ McCollum assists) | 39-38 | |
2:54 | Luguentz Dort misses two point driving layup | |||
2:52 | Chet Holmgren offensive rebound | |||
2:47 | +2 | Isaiah Joe makes two point driving reverse layup (Jalen Williams assists) | 39-40 | |
2:27 | Luguentz Dort personal foul (Larry Nance Jr. draws the foul) | |||
2:20 | Brandon Ingram misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:17 | Pelicans offensive rebound | |||
2:17 | Isaiah Joe personal foul (Loose ball) (Herbert Jones draws the foul) | |||
2:12 | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point pullup jump shot (Herbert Jones assists) | 41-40 | |
1:57 | CJ McCollum blocks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:57 | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | |||
1:44 | Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot | |||
1:40 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defensive rebound | |||
1:35 | Isaiah Joe misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:35 | Cason Wallace offensive rebound | |||
1:24 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:22 | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | |||
1:07 | Brandon Ingram misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
1:03 | Isaiah Joe defensive rebound | |||
0:55 | Isaiah Joe turnover (lost ball) (Trey Murphy III steals) | |||
0:36 | CJ McCollum misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
0:32 | Isaiah Joe defensive rebound | |||
0:26 | +3 | Cason Wallace makes three point running jump shot (Chet Holmgren assists) | 41-43 | |
0:05 | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point jump shot (Trey Murphy III assists) | 43-43 | |
0:00 | Jalen Williams misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Thunder offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |