NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander puts up 29 to lead Thunder past Pelicans

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-95 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Thunder while ending the Pelicans’ two-game winning run.

Chet Holmgren was instrumental in the third quarter, scoring 14 of his 20 points and grabbing seven of his 14 rebounds during the period. Oklahoma City converted ten second-chance points in the quarter alone, helping create separation. After managing just two offensive rebounds in the first half, the Thunder collected 11 in the second, finishing with 21 second-chance points in the final two quarters. They also reversed their first-half rebounding deficit, winning the second-half battle 30-20. Holmgren added five blocks and three assists.

The Thunder extended their lead to 17 early in the fourth quarter, but New Orleans responded with a 13-2 run, cutting the deficit to six with under six minutes remaining. Rookie Jeremiah Fears, who starred at nearby Oklahoma last year, sparked the Pelicans’ rally with four quick points, including a basket off his own steal. Fears later set up Herbert Jones for a 3-pointer and hit another three-pointer himself, bringing the deficit down to five. However, the Pelicans were unable to close the gap.

Oklahoma City won despite shooting only 40.2% from the field, marking their fourth-lowest shooting performance of the season and their worst in a win. New Orleans shot 34.3%, their second-lowest of the year. Isaiah Joe contributed 17 points off the bench, while Jaylin Williams pulled down 10 rebounds. Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 21 points and 11 rebounds, going 8 of 11 from the floor, while the rest of the starters combined for 14 of 59.

Gilgeous-Alexander had a slow start, missing his first five shots and not scoring until early in the second quarter. He finished 8 of 22 from the field but was near perfect from the free-throw line, making 13 of 14 attempts.

—Field Level Media/Reuters