After a ultimate defensive place, the Thunder might wipe their foreheads.
No group had actually sweated since final weekend, when Dillon Brooks smiled in a skirmish and the Rockets handed OKC its most up-to-date loss.
On Saturday, after a 16-2 run, the Pelicans reminded the Thunder what true thirst seems like, delivering the closest factor to a scare earlier than OKC held on in a 119-109 victory.
Halfway by means of the second quarter, he led by 25. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an virtually flawless first half (23 factors on 8 of 9 taking pictures), and the waves fell on a New York group. Orléans powerless.
The sting has widened. The portray welcomed SGA and the Thunder with open arms. The offense was buzzing like Teddy Pendergrass. OKC in the end led by as many as 30.
But even with out Brandon Ingram, who left the sport on the primary possession of the second half with an ankle damage, New Orleans refused to look again.
She tightened her cowl over Gilgeous-Alexander. It pressured his teammates to create and facilitate, making magic occur away from the Thunder’s most mystical expertise.
After taking pictures 67.4 p.c from the sector within the first half, the Thunder shot simply 38.9 p.c within the ultimate 24 minutes.
OKC had video games the place it did not flip the ball over eight occasions, a masterclass in ball management this season. Halves? Not so typically. However that By no means has quarters the place he coughs up the ball that many occasions. Saturday’s fourth quarter grew to become unrecognizable.
Six totally different gamers dedicated a turnover within the fourth alone. The Thunder had been stripped and baited, pushed up to now that New Orleans minimize its result in single digits.
It digested that. He lived with the truth that Gilgeous-Alexander was pushed by a determined Pelicans protection to be removed from good. And behind her personal protection, her saving grace time and time once more, she held off New Orleans within the ultimate minutes.
In per week of blowouts and mind-boggling level gaps, this iteration of the Thunder nonetheless got here away from Saturday with some helpful materials for the season.
Duality of Shai
For twenty-four minutes, Gilgeous-Alexander did not see anybody.
Not Dejounte Murray, who tried to ram his head into SGA’s chest. Not rookie middle Yves Missi, who was fodder as soon as Gilgeous-Alexander went down. No assist.
Gilgeous-Alexander, regardless of the arms flying in the direction of him, was alone. Alone to pivot and eurostep its manner by means of the wind. For a half, he was untouchable.
His 23 factors within the first half – he completed with 31 factors – had been a season excessive, with equally deadly doses of layups and free throws.
After which he was within the crowd.
The Pelicans’ Shai cohesive protection tightened up. He begged anybody else to be some extent guard and requested the Thunder’s stellar guard to dig into his bag of reads.
New Orleans was extra intentional. Extra ruthless. Much less forgiving of Gilgeous-Alexander, who spent the second half attempting to outrun double groups like a nauseating sport of tag.
When he was down, he tried to beat New Orleans with hanging pull-up 3s and fast window jumpers. He completed the half simply 2-for-9 from the sector with three turnovers, far sufficient from the model of himself that stomped the Pelicans to grant him a window to struggle again.
Saturday’s second half actually wasn’t the primary time a group put Gilgeous-Alexander on this scenario. It will not be the final.
His mastery is plain. His expertise will quickly be too; in Los Angeles per week earlier, Gilgeous-Alexander stated he had seen just about each cowl obtainable, leaving open the likelihood that there have been coaches artistic sufficient to give you new options.
However what occurs when a group asks Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates to win a sport? Or when it threatens him to repeatedly beat four- and five-man coverages? Enjoying video games for others in locations the place he cannot cease?
Saturday’s shut name is a chance. Gilgeous-Alexander has already seen it. This time it was one other notice for his reminiscence, one which he’ll appear to just accept with out downside.
“That’s what the season is for,” he stated. “Use it to enhance your self. Hopefully your greatest type of who you might be as a group comes (at) the tip of the season, and there isn’t any different approach to get there than to undergo trials and tribulations all through. all through the season.
“The extra we see of this, the higher off we shall be on the finish of the 12 months.” At all times settle for these challenges. Kiss them.
Caruso’s shot comes into play
Alex Caruso by no means nervous about his shot returning in play.
For some time it was ugly. Caruso went eight video games with no efficiency with a number of 3s. Though his offensive worth was not solely depending on making photographs, Caruso yearned to contribute in that a part of the sport.
And this week, he did.
Caruso went 6 of seven from the sector for 14 factors Saturday, his second highest-scoring sport in a Thunder uniform. With the pair he knocked down on Saturday, the 30-year-old has now made 4 of his final six 3-point makes an attempt, an accomplishment because of his 20.5 p.c taking pictures from deep for the rest of the season.
He had seen too many seasons to wallow in his misadventures.
“I have been doing this too a few years, I labored too arduous this summer time to fret,” Caruso informed The Oklahoman on Nov. 19 after a loss in San Antonio. “….Everybody desires to attain, everybody desires to make photographs, particularly after I had such an extended summer time to arrange. I felt like I did a very good job.
“It’s nearly discovering a rhythm within the sport.”
Caruso will proceed to bully ball handlers, incomes him factors in transition. It can additionally show priceless as a screener.
However the shot cures the whole lot. Caruso appears near a treatment.
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Thunder vs. Pelicans odds
Probabilities courtesy of by way of PariMGM from Saturday December 7
Odds: Thunder by 8.5
Extra/much less: 221.5
Cash line: OKC-350 | New Orleans +260
Extra: How OKC Thunder’s Roster Development Was Constructed to Defend the King: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
OKC Thunder Roster
*-two-way contract
Thunder vs. Pelicans damage updates
Thunder: Ousmane Dieng (small fracture of the precise ring finger) is out. Alex Ducas (two-way G League) is out. Chet Holmgren (proper iliac wing fracture) is out. Dillon Jones (G League project) is out. Nikola Topic (left knee operation) is absent. Jaylin Williams (proper hamstring pressure) is eradicated.
Pelicans: Jose Alvarado (left hamstring pressure) is out. Jordan Hawkins (lumbar spinal fracture) is out. Karlo Matkovic (again ache) is questionable. Antonio Reeves (G League project) is out. Daniel Theis (neck spasm) is questionable. Zion Williamson (left hamstring pressure) is out.
Extra: OKC Thunder Daring Predictions: What Will Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Do?
Thunder Highlights vs. Pelicans
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This text was initially printed on Oklahoman: Jalen Williams and Thunder maintain off late rally, beat Pelicans to finish journey
