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Andrew Lopez, ESPN
OKLAHOMA CITY — After a close victory in Game 1, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daino told his team the New Orleans Pelicans will be more aggressive in Game 2 on Wednesday night. I warned you. And the Pelicans struck first, getting the first 11 points from bruising center Jonas Valanciunas.
But after that first punch, the Thunder were on the offensive, and Oklahoma City won 124-92, taking a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.
The win was the fourth largest playoff win in Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics history and the second largest since the team moved to Oklahoma City.
An early counter to Valanciunas dropping down low was to get rookie Chet Holmgren on the perimeter. Holmgren scored 15 of his 26 points in the first quarter as the Thunder jumped out to a double-digit lead and never looked back.
“The starters were great,” Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He's aggressive, proactive, makes quick decisions and obviously that was a big reason why we took the lead. He just played to his strengths and didn't try to deviate from that. We all know when he does it, he's really good.”
Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 33 points in the playoffs, and he, Holmgren and Jaylen Williams combined for 80 points. All of Oklahoma City's 124 points were scored by players under the age of 25, making the Thunder the first team in NBA history to score all of them. According to research from ESPN Stats & Information, playoff games will be played by players that are that young.
Just like in Game 1, the Thunder's defense made it difficult for New Orleans throughout the game. Luguentz Dort's defense against Brandon Ingram was once again key, limiting him to 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting, although he was 8-of-8 from the line.
Dort's defense drew high praise from Gilgeous-Alexander after the game.
“I'm glad I don't have to play against him,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He puts his hat in there every night and he's never satisfied. There are very few nights where we change. He fights through it all, stays in the game all night and continues to compete every moment he's on the floor. He protects the best players in different games.''It's great to watch the team every night and they're really talented.
“Some guys can score, and Lu can play defense. Why isn't he on the All-NBA team for defense and stuff? I don't know. I don't vote, but he's the best defenseman in my opinion. He's one of those people I've seen in my life. ”
Oklahoma City shot 59% overall and made 14 of 29 from 3-point range. Williams said the Thunder had the game in their hands.
“Especially in the playoffs, everyone is focused on every little detail,” Williams said. “Everyone knows how they play, so we just accept what's there and don't force anything. For ourselves and the rest of the team, let each other play and just be good. I think I've done my job.'' That's how I read it. ”
The second-heaviest playoff loss in history didn't do New Orleans any favors as they committed 18 turnovers and held the Thunder to 22 points. Eight of the turnovers were offensive fouls.
The Pelicans became the second team in the last 10 seasons to commit eight offensive fouls in a postseason game, matching the feat the 2015 Pelicans accomplished in Game 3 of the first round against the Golden State Warriors.
The No. 1 seed took a 2-0 series lead in the first round and is now 54-1 overall against the No. 8 seed. The only victory came in 1994 by the SuperSonics, who upset them in a best-of-five series against the Denver Nuggets.
For New Orleans to have a chance, it needs to start on offense after two lackluster performances in Oklahoma City.
“I think it's time for us to be together a little bit more,” Ingram said. “If you look at OKC, you can see how united they are. We can't afford to be up 2-0 and get torn apart. We go back and look at film, what's the best defense, what's the best defense?” We have to talk as players about whether it's an offense or not. We have to go out there and do it.”
