OKLAHOMA CITY — Getting into the playoffs, the Thunder have been the youngest NBA group to safe a No. 1 seed since seeding started in 1984.
After lacking the playoffs the previous three seasons and dealing on a rebuild, the Thunder’s reward as the highest seed within the sturdy Western Convention was dealing with the 49-win New Orleans Pelicans, who needed to combat by the play-in event but additionally boasted a league-best file on the highway.
Seven of the 11 Thunder gamers who took the ground Sunday night time have been competing of their first playoff sport. The relative inexperience confirmed itself at instances within the fourth quarter, however the group additionally got here by when it most wanted to.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put the Thunder up on a three-point play with 32.5 seconds remaining in regulation, whereas rookies Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace got here up with huge defensive performs to assist Oklahoma Metropolis safe a 94-92 win in Sport 1 of the first-round playoff sequence.
“Everyone that got here in performed their position,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “They gave good minutes. All 11 guys did their half, and that is the explanation why we received tonight.”
After Gilgeous-Alexander tied the rating at 90 with 1:36 to go, the Pelicans’ ensuing possession featured 4 shot makes an attempt and three offensive rebounds — however no factors, thanks to 1 remaining cease by Holmgren.
Pelicans middle Larry Nance Jr. rolled to the rim and tried to get a shot over the outstretched arms of Holmgren, however the rookie met the ball at its apex to file his fifth block of the night time.
“I used to be simply attempting to make a play,” Holmgren stated. “I did not wish to go away issues within the palms of the opposite group, so I used to be attempting to go up and make a play, whether or not I used to be going to be late and it was going to be a goaltend or not.”
It was on the subsequent possession that Gilgeous-Alexander gave the Thunder the lead for good.
The Pelicans answered with a fast basket on their subsequent possession, and Holmgren then hit considered one of two free throws to make it a two-point sport.
With 14 seconds left, the Pelicans bought the ball to CJ McCollum, and Wallace was switched on to him. McCollum misplaced the ball at first however was in a position to get it again; he then stepped by Wallace’s block try and let a shot go that appeared on line however hit the again of the rim.
“I believed it was money, and I missed it lengthy,” McCollum stated. “However the sport should not have come right down to that.”
Each groups struggled to get going offensively early on. The sport was tied at 17 after the primary quarter and at 43 at halftime.
It was nonetheless probably the most hotly contested sport of the NBA playoff weekend. There have been 20 lead modifications as in comparison with 19 lead modifications within the different seven video games mixed.
New Orleans took a 90-88 lead — the nineteenth of the sport — with 3:34 to go on a layup by Brandon Ingram however did not rating once more till there have been 26.5 seconds remaining. The Pelicans went 1-of-7 within the remaining 3:09 with 4 turnovers.
Oklahoma Metropolis held New Orleans to 38.5% taking pictures, and the Pelicans went simply 1-of-15 on nook 3-pointers.
It was a formidable begin for the No. 1 seed, however Thunder coach Mark Daigneault is aware of it is only the start.
“I simply advised the group, and I feel it is true, these sequence are lengthy,” Daigneault stated. “You must enhance by the sequence, and that is our problem now. We bought to look at the movie, study from it and be a greater group on Wednesday than we have been tonight.”
