The Oklahoma City Thunder showcased a dominant performance as they defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 in Game 2 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series. This victory now gives the Thunder a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for the Thunder with an impressive 33-point performance. Chet Holmgren contributed 26 points and seven rebounds, while Jalen Williams added 21 points to the winning effort.
On the other side, Jonas Valanciunas led the Pelicans with 19 points, with Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram chipping in 18 points each. The Pelicans continued to struggle on offense, especially missing their top scorer Zion Williamson, who was sidelined with a strained left hamstring.
The Thunder's stellar shooting performance, with a 59% field goal percentage and 14 made 3-pointers out of 29 attempts, proved to be a key factor in their victory. Additionally, Oklahoma City outrebounded New Orleans 37-35 and capitalized on the Pelicans' turnovers, scoring 22 points off 18 turnovers.
Game 3 is set to take place in New Orleans on Saturday, where the Pelicans will look to bounce back and narrow the series gap.
The Thunder's offensive firepower was on full display in Game 2, a stark contrast to their narrow 94-92 win in Game 1. Valanciunas and Holmgren had standout performances, setting the tone early in the game.
Oklahoma City took control early, establishing a 35-22 lead at the end of the first quarter. They maintained their momentum throughout the game, leading 63-50 at halftime and extending their advantage to 92-74 by the end of the third quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren's stellar contributions allowed the Thunder to secure a comfortable lead, ultimately closing out the game with a convincing 124-92 victory.
The Thunder's depth and efficiency on both ends of the court proved too much for the Pelicans to handle, putting them in a favorable position as the series shifts to New Orleans for Game 3.
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