The Oklahoma City Thunder enjoyed a winning season where they ended up at the top of the Western Conference. Their performances were so convincing that Skip Bayless is actively marketing for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win MVP.
While the New Orleans Pelicans are a great basketball team, not many thought they could take down a team as young and exciting as the Thunder. Just by looking at their performances all season, it was reasonable to see the Thunder have an easier time dealing with them.
However, it turned out to be a tough day at the office for OKC as they had to get scrappy against a team that didn’t have their franchise player playing.
The Oklahoma City Thunder struggled against the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 1, 92-94
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the main man who carried his team as they struggled with postseason jitters. He finished the game with 28 points, six rebounds, and four assists. His shooting was decent at 45.8%, but he didn’t convert any of the three-point attempts he made.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren held their own in their first postseason game. Williams had a solid all-around game, finishing with 19 points on 44% shooting compounded with seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Holmgren had a double-double with 15 points, 11 boards, two assists, a steal, and five blocks.
However, the Thunder’s three-point shooting leaves a lot to be desired, they finished the game with a 31.3% clip from deep. Fortunately for them, Shai’s efforts down the stretch ensured the Thunder’s Game 1 win.
The New Orleans Pelicans played well without Zion Williamson
However, the more worrying concern for the Thunder is the fact that their opponents played well despite their star man not seeing a single minute of action.
The Thunder were able to contain Brandon Ingram to a terrible 5-for-17 shooting night and 12 points. However, they failed to contain CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III, who scored 20 and 21 points against the Thunder defense, respectively.
If the Pelicans had Zion on the floor, the game would have had a completely different complexion. The Thunder must make their adjustments to better secure their advance to the second round.
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