OKC Thunder sweeps New Orleans Pelicans to advance in NBA playoffs

No. 1-seeded OKC looks to sweep its first-round playoff series against No. 8 New Orleans with Game 4 at 7:30 p.m. Monday in New Orleans.The Thunder holds a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. OKC earned a 106-85 road win over New Orleans in Game 3 on Saturday.Here's what you need to know about the matchup:More:How OKC Thunder stayed true to identity before, during and after Game 3 rout of PelicansThunder vs. Pelicans live score updatesMore:Who is the OKC Thunder projected to face in the second round of the NBA playoffs?Thunder vs. Pelicans highlightsMore:Mussatto: Can OKC Thunder repeat its NBA playoff history after first sweep since 2012? FINAL: Thunder 97, Pelicans 89 | OKC sweeps New Orleans, advances to Western Conference semifinalsShai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams each scored 24 points to lead the Thunder to a sweep of the Pelicans in the first round of the NBA playoffs.More:OKC Thunder advancing in NBA playoffs for first time since 2016 with sweep Pelicans 8:01 left 4Q: Thunder 80, Pelicans 80 | Josh Giddey gets going from 3-point landGiddey now 3 for 4 from 3. Dort is loving it, jumping up and down as he’s about to check in. Huge plays. All tied at 80.—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer End 3Q: Pelicans 71, Thunder 70 | New Orleans trying to force a Game 5New Orleans takes a 71-70 right before the end of the 3rd on a bad foul. *Maybe* the ugliest game of this series, and Game 1 happened. Both teams 7 for 27 from 3. A Game 5, if necessary, would be Wednesday.—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer 2:27 left in 3Q: Thunder 70, Pelicans 66 | Rough night for Brandon IngramBrandon Ingram hasn’t had a great series, but he’s in absolute hell right now. 1 for 9, two TOs. Watching Dort sub out only to see Cason Wallace pressure the ball like that has to feel like being slammed against a wall.—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer 7:44 left in 3Q: Thunder 54, Pelicans 53 | Josh Giddey jumper puts OKC back in frontAs our guy Joe Mussatto wrote, Lu Dort has been the MVP of this series. His assist to Josh Giddey has OKC back up midway through the third quarter. Dort's defense and game-high 24 minutes have steadied OKC so far.—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer Half: Thunder 44, Pelicans 43 | Jalen Williams leads OKC to halftime leadThunder leading 44-43 at the half. Still a nasty shooting game. Pels at 34.1% FG, 3 for 19 (15.8%) from 3. OKC at 40.5% and is just 4 for 19 from deep. Unclear if the ankle thing is still bothering Shai. He’s 3 for 10 with 9 pts, 5 boards. JDub with 13 & 5 boards.—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer 2:45 left in 2Q: Thunder 40, Pelicans 37Somehow, the Thunder is only ahead 40-37 and it feels like it’s outplayed New Orleans by a decent margin. Certainly another gear to hit.—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer 6:42 left in 2Q: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander back in gameThunder fans can take a deep breathe. Shai Gilgeous Alexander is back in the game. OKC leads 32-31.—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer End 1Q: Thunder 21, Pelicans 21 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tended to after missing final shot of quarterRough quarter. All tied at 21 after 1. Pels shooting 34.8% from the field and are 2 for 12 from deep. OKC at 33% FG, 3 for 11 from 3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seemed to go down following the contest of his last shot. Holding something. He’s being looked at/stretched.—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer 3:11 left in 1Q: Thunder 21, Pelicans 19And like, the defense, which saw three bodies shrink Shai’s bubble there, KNEW that he could only do so much in that spot. And he still got what he wanted. Masterful.—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer Is the pressure on the Thunder in Game 4?Pelicans coach Willie Green said before Monday night's Game 4 that “the pressure is definitely more on (the Thunder) to close this out. But in this line of work, there’s always pressure on both ends.”Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, asked his thoughts on this: "I don't know ... Pressure is kinda an arbitrary term that has nothing to do with being first to the screen or spacing in transition or being physical on the glass — all the things we're going to try to do tonight."—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writerOKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA playoffs Game 4 predictionsJustin Martinez, The OklahomanNew Orleans' offense hit a wall this series.The Pelicans are averaging just 89.7 points per game. Lu Dort has helped hold Brandon Ingram to an average of 16.3 points, and Chet Holmgren has protected the rim with 11 total blocks.OKC has dominated defensively. And with Zion Williamson still out, New Orleans likely won't have enough firepower to avoid elimination on Monday.Prediction: Thunder 107, Pelicans 99More:What channel is the Thunder game on tonight? OKC goes for sweep vs. New OrleansJoe Mussatto, The OklahomanNo team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to win a series. Will the Pelicans play with the desperation required to force a Game 5, or have they already made their offseason vacation plans?Even if it’s the former, OKC will be motivated to end this series early and rest up for Round 2.Prediction: Thunder 104, Pelicans 98More:Mussatto: Why OKC Thunder's Lu Dort has been MVP of NBA playoffs vs. New Orleans PelicansGame 4: How to watch OKC Thunder vs New Orleans PelicansDate: Monday, April 29Time: 7:30 p.m. CTTV: Bally Sports OklahomaLive Stream: Fubo (watch for free)More:Why history is on OKC Thunder's side after taking 3-0 series lead vs New OrleansInjury report for OKC Thunder vs New Orleans PelicansOKC Thunder injury reportNoneNew Orleans Pelicans injury reportZion Williamson (hamstring strain) is out. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (left ankle sprain) is questionable.More:Mark Daigneault wins NBA Coach of the Year after leading OKC Thunder to top seed in WestProjected OKC Thunder starting lineupShai Gilgeous-Alexander (30.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.2 APG)Josh Giddey (12.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 4.8 APG)Lu Dort (10.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 APG)Jalen Williams (19.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.5 APG)Chet Holmgren (16.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.4 APG)More:Who is ‘Bark Daigneault’? Meet dog making 'challenge face' like Thunder coachProjected New Orleans Pelicans starting lineupCJ McCollum (20 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.6 APG)Herb Jones (11 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1 APG)Trey Murphy III (14.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 APG)Brandon Ingram (20.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.7 APG)Jonas Valanciunas (12.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.1 APG)More:Jeremiah Robinson-Earl left his 'fingerprints' on OKC Thunder on road back to NBA playoffsOKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans playoff series scheduleMore:Mark Daigneault, OKC Thunder assistant coaches have rare continuity: 'No ego in the room'OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans regular-season series recordOKC won the regular-season series, 2-1. The Thunder won the final two meetings by an average of 15.5 points.More:Why do OKC Thunder fans bark like dogs? Credit Jalen Williams, Loud CityOKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA playoffs Game 4 betting oddsOdds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, April 29Spread: OKC (-4.5)Over/under: 206.5Moneyline: OKC -190 | New Orleans +155More:Why Shaquille O'Neal believes OKC Thunder will make Western Conference Finals2024 NBA playoffsPlay-in tournament picks: Lakers at Pelicans | Warriors at Kings | Heat at 76ers | Hawks at Bulls | Kings at Pelicans | Bulls at HeatFirst-round picks: Celtics vs Heat | Knicks vs 76ers | Bucks vs Pacers | Cavaliers vs Magic | Thunder vs Pelicans | Nuggets vs Lakers | Timberwolves vs Suns | Clippers vs MavericksMore:Meet Jeremy Price, the tattooed courtside super fan at OKC Thunder gamesMore OKC Thunder newsWe occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage. Source link

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