NEW ORLEANS — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 factors and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder routed the New Orleans Pelicans 107-83 on Friday evening to enhance their NBA-leading street file to 15-8.
Chet Holmgren added 20 factors and 13 rebounds to assist the Thunder win their fourth straight on the street.
On Thursday, Gilgeous-Alexander was voted a Western Convention starter for the All-Star Sport.
“It’s an honor, it’s a blessing,” he stated. “Clearly, there’s so many gifted gamers within the NBA, so many gifted guards, particularly within the West. To be voted first by my friends, who do the identical job as me, is a very good feeling.”
Oklahoma Metropolis coach Mark Daigneault stated the consistency he has seen in Gilgeous-Alexander’s play could be essentially the most spectacular attribute of his All-Star season.
“He does it contained in the workforce,” Daigneault stated. “His success additionally impacts the workforce and by some means creates house for different guys to raise and enhance and different guys to rock out a bit bit. He’s in a position to steadiness excessive ambition and excessive manufacturing with creating the extent of house he does for the remainder of the workforce. That, to me, is essentially the most spectacular factor. He’s an excellent participant. ”
Herb Jones and Jonas Valanciunas every had 14 factors for New Orleans. Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum every added 12.
Taking part in with out Zion Williamson due to a bone bruise in his left foot, the Pelicans shot simply 39% three days after setting a franchise file for factors in a 153-124 victory over Utah. After making 23 3-pointers on Tuesday, New Orleans was held to 9-of-36 taking pictures in opposition to the Thunder en path to a season-low 83 factors.
“We did an excellent job defensively, clearly, and it was fairly constant all through the sport,” Daigneault stated. “We have been in a position to maintain a very excessive degree defensively all through. There wasn’t a lot that they received that was straightforward.”
Oklahoma Metropolis additionally shot poorly from deep (10 of 33), however the Thunder went 13 of 14 from the foul line and compelled 16 New Orleans turnovers. The Thunder missed 16 of their first 24 photographs, however they made 34 of 64 over the ultimate three quarters.
“The signal of a mature workforce is the flexibility to maintain clever offense and high-level depth on protection, whatever the ball getting in,” Daigneault stated.
The 70-point drop-off from the file output Tuesday ate at Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced, who blamed his workforce’s collapse on not having the ability to deal with the basketball.
“A few of (the turnovers) have been simply unforced,” Inexperienced stated. “Being energetic and getting turnovers is what (the Thunder) do effectively, however after we work on it and work on it and our workforce comes out and doesn’t execute the way in which we will, it’s deflating. It begins with the turnovers.”
McCollum, who had 4 turnovers, agreed.
“The best way we performed two video games in the past was totally different,” McCollum stated. “Zion had the ball out and pushed the tempo. We performed by means of him rather a lot, however he (didn’t) play tonight. It (was) only a totally different sport, and we have to be higher. We didn’t play effectively and turned the ball over.”
Williamson went by means of pregame warmups however was held out as a precaution. Inexperienced stated his standing can be up to date earlier than Saturday evening’s sport in opposition to the Bucks.
UP NEXT
Thunder: At Detroit on Sunday.
Pelicans: At Milwaukee on Saturday evening.
