Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 33 points lead Thunder past Pelicans 124-92; OKC takes 2-0 lead

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Chet Holmgren had 26 points and 7 rebounds and Jalen Williams included 21 points for the top-seeded Thunder, who shot 59% from the field and made 14 of 29 3-tips.

Jonas Valanciunas scored 19 points and Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram included 18 each for the Pelicans.

New Orleans continued to battle on offense without top scorer Zion Williamson, who stayed out with a strained left hamstring.

In Game 1, Valanciunas had 20 rebounds, consistingof 9 offending, and the Pelicans outrebounded the Thunder 52-44. On Wednesday, Oklahoma City outrebounded New Orleans 37-35 and held the Pelicans to 8 offensive boards.

The Thunder likewise scored 22 points off New Orleans’ 18 turnovers.

Game 3 will be Saturday in New Orleans.

The rate chose up considerably from Sunday’s videogame, which Oklahoma City won 94-92. The Thunder, who balanced 120.1 points in the routine season, were much more comfy with it.

Valanciunas scored 11 points in the veryfirst 3 minutes of the videogame, however Holmgren countered with 13 points in 7 minutes of first-quarter action.

Gilgeous-Alexander selected up where Holmgren left off. He didn’t rating for the veryfirst 9 minutes, then scored 7 in the last 3 minutes of the quarter to aid the Thunder take a 35-22 lead. Holmgren’s 15 points were the most by a Thunder novice in any quarter of a playoff videogame.

Oklahoma City led 63-50 at halftime. Holmgren scored 20 points and Gilgeous-Alexander included 16 before the break.

The Thunder extended their lead to 92-74 at the end of the 3rd, and Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren went to the bench for excellent with the Thunder leading 120-86 in the 4th.

Reporting by The Associated Press.