The Oklahoma City Thunder remained to be the puzzle the New Orleans Pelicans could not solve.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams combined for 60 points, spearheading a 106-88 Thunder blowout of the injury-riddled Pelicans on Thursday, November 14 (PH Time).
The Thunder pull of a HUGE win over the short-handed Pelicans 😤
— Thunder Nation (@ThunderNationCP) November 14, 2024
Jalen Williams:
31 points on 10-of-18 FG
6 rebounds
7 assists
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:
29 points on 12-of-25 FG
5 rebounds
5 assists pic.twitter.com/CCxztfNiDh
SGA dropped 29 markers, including 13 alone in the third frame, on top of five rebounds and five assists.
Shai with the tough finish at the rim 😤
— NBA (@NBA) November 14, 2024
Part of a 20-5 OKC run to end the 1Q!
🏀 NOP-OKC
📺 ESPN
Williams continued his fine play on both ends with a season-high 31 points, seven assists on top of four steals and two blocks.
The steal.
— NBA (@NBA) November 14, 2024
Behind-the-back pass.
Aaron Wiggins slam.
Jalen Williams making it happen on both ends!
NOP-OKC in the 2Q on ESPN.
With the victory, the Thunder (10-2) became the first team in the Western Conference to reach 10 wins this season while also improving to 6-1 at home.
OKC broke the game wide open during the period, uncorking a rampaging 16-0 run that turned a 59-all scoreline into a whopping 75-59 lead. They went on to carry 82-68 cushion entering the final frame.
Passing in patience
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 14, 2024
The Thunder's lead ballooned to as high as points in the 22 points in the final quarter en route to back-to-back wins.
OKC smothered New Orleans all-game long, collecting 16 steals and tallying seven blocks while also forcing the Pelicans to commit 23 turnovers.
12 Thunder steals and counting 💥 pic.twitter.com/0YSGWWYgbQ
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 14, 2024
They also translated those errors to 26 points while running the Pelicans out of the building with an absurd 34-2 fast break point advantage.
A combined 14 players from both squads missed their first match-up of the season mostly due to injuries .
Jose Alvarado (left hamstring strain), Jordan Hawkins (low back strain), Herb Jones (right shoulder strain), CJ McCollum (right adductor strain), Dejounte Murray (left-hand fracture), Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain), and Karlo Matkovic (G League) are all out for the Pelicans.
Meanwhile, the Thunder are without Holmgren (hip), Alex Caruso (hip soreness), Isaiah Hartenstein (hand), Nikola Topic (knee), Jaylin Williams (hamstring), Alex Ducas (G League), and Adam Flager (G League).
This also marked the first time they met each other after the Thunder’s opening round sweep of the Pelicans in last season’s playoffs.
Brandon Ingram netted 18 points to lead the Pelicans (3-9), who’s last win against the Thunder came over a year ago.
Yves Missi added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds while Brandon Boston Jr. added eight markers, four boards, and 10 dimes.
Ingram led a hot Pelicans start, scoring 10 of the team's first 20 points for an early 11-point lead.
INGRAM HEATER 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) November 14, 2024
Back-to-back 3s have the Pels up early!
NOP-OKC | 1Q | ESPN
Besides the injury bug early in the season, the losses continued to pile up for New Orleans as they absorbed their sixth straight defeat and nine of their last 10 games.
The Pelicans return to their crib to host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets (7-3) next while Thunder are set for a heavyweight slugfest against fellow West leaders Phoenix Suns (9-2).
