The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a narrow victory over the New Orleans Pelicans with a final score of 94-92 in an exhilarating Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs. Taking place at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, the Thunder now lead the series 1-0.
The match was intensely competitive, featuring 20 lead changes throughout the game. The Thunder reached their largest lead of 10 points (82-72) during the fourth quarter but faced a challenging five-minute field goal drought in the same period.
The Pelicans seized multiple opportunities to take the lead in the final two minutes when the game was tied at 90-90. Despite making four shots within 28 seconds, all attempts missed, preventing them from securing a victory.
As the West's top seed, the Thunder faced the conference's eighth seed Pelicans, who boast significant depth in the wing positions with players like Herbert Jones, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy III, and Naji Marshall. These athletes pose a consistent challenge for Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), who had to work hard for every bucket.
Reference(s):
NBA highlights on April 21: Thunder beat Pelicans in a close game
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