The New Orleans Pelicans welcomed the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Smoothie King Center in a Friday night contest. The Pelicans were without Zion Williamson and OKC took full advantage as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren combined for 51 points to lead the Thunder to a 107-83 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Pelicans held a 17-16 lead at the 2:55 mark of the first quarter despite shooting just 35% from the field. Herb Jones led New Orleans with seven points while CJ McCollum, Jose Alvarado, and Jordan Hawkins each had three. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a quick eight points to lead all scorers.
After one quarter, the Pelicans led 24-22 after a first quarter where both teams traded buckets. Jones continued to be the leader for New Orleans with seven points while rookie Jordan Hawkins added six.
Through the first three minutes of the second quarter, the Thunder outscored the Pelicans 11-4 despite Gilgeous-Alexander sitting on the bench to take a 33-28 lead.
At the end of the first half, the Thunder held a 50-41 lead over the Pelicans after an 8-2 run over the final four minutes. Chet Holmgren capped the run with a dunk at the buzzer to give OKC momentum going into the locker room. Gilgeous-Alexander had 16 points at the break while Jonas Valanciunas had eight to lead New Orleans.
To open the third quarter, the Pelicans shot 3-10 from the field including just 1-7 from behind the three-point line. With 6:12 left in the quarter, the Thunder led by nine at 58-49.
At the final break of the third quarter, Oklahoma City still had a comfortable 73-62 lead over the Pelicans. Gilgeous-Alexander had 23 points to approach his season average of 31 while Jones and Ingram each had 12 for New Orleans.
It was all Thunder in the fourth quarter, continuing to run away from the Pelicans with 30 points scored in the final frame to secure the 107-83 final score.
BIG NUMBER: 20
The Pelicans were sloppy with the basketball on several occasions tonight, turning the ball over 20 times against the Thunder.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA had 31 points tonight on 10-21 shooting while adding four rebounds and five assists.
PLAYER OF THE GAME II: Chet Holmgren
Holmgren was a mismatch all night for the Pelicans as he scored 20 points on 9-16 shooting and had 13 rebounds to complete the double-double.
UP NEXT: The Pelicans head out to Milwaukee tomorrow to take on the Bucks. Tip off from Fiserv Forum is set for 7:00 pm