Thunder vs Pelicans 97-89

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Thunder and Pelicans was a highly anticipated game, with both teams looking to secure a crucial win. The game started off with both teams trading baskets, showcasing their offensive prowess. However, it was the Thunder who managed to pull ahead in the second half, thanks to stellar performances from their star players.

Russell Westbrook led the charge for the Thunder, putting up an impressive stat line of 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. His aggressive play on both ends of the court proved to be too much for the Pelicans to handle. Additionally, Paul George chipped in with 25 points and solid defense against New Orleans' top scorers.

Any NBA player will preach that closeout games are the toughest. The whistles get wild, the crowd gets crazy and the foe is fighting for their life. That was the story of Game 4 in New Orleans. 

With the Oklahoma City Thunder owning a 3-0 lead over the Pelicans, the Bourbon Street boys came out firing.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points and 10 rebounds and the Thunder beat the Pelicans 97-89 on Monday night to complete a four-game sweep of their first-round playoff series.

Jose Alvarado blocked Gilgeous-Alexander and sent CJ McCollum the other way on a 2-on-1 break.

McCollum could not convert at the rim, however. Soon after,  Chet Holmgren's putback and  Josh Giddey's 3 tied it at 80 and ignited a decisive 18-2 run, capped by Williams' second-chance 3, that put the Thunder up 93-82 with 3:08 left.

New Orleans, which played the entire series without star power forward Zion Williamson, never recovered.

The Thunder held a 44-43 halftime lead in a game that was highly competitive through three quarters, with 18 lead changes and neither team leading by more than five.

New Orleans stayed close despite Brandon Ingram missing nine of his first 10 shots and 12 of 14 for the game.

Ingram's free throws with 3 seconds left in the third quarter gave the Pelicans a 71-70 lead at the end of the period, but he finished with just eight points when more was needed of him with Williamson out of the lineup.

With the Pelicans missing star power forward and leading scorer Zion Williamson for all four games in the series, New Orleans needed more from Ingram.

“Obviously, with the injury to (Zion) Williamson, that changed the complexion of their team coming into the series,” Daigneault said.

But the normally Ingram was largely frustrated by the physical defending of the Thunder’s Lu Dort.

“For Lou to kind of take that challenge and do that is huge for us,” Williams said.

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