Thunder-Pelicans: Five insights from the thrilling first game

In Game 1, the Thunder show off their youthfulness with a 94-92 victory, but New Orleans gains a commanding lead on the glass.

OKLAHOMA CITY Queens Dont Stop Me Now blasted inside Paycom Center as blue and orange confetti flooded the air at the buzzer, commemorating Oklahoma Citys 94-92 victory over New Orleans.

For Game 1 and the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs, the celebrations looked over the top. However, it took the Thunder four years to get here.

Following a lengthy rebuild, OKC seems ready to contend for many years to come in the postseason. This youthful team, which showed resilience and poise on Sunday, won its debut game against the Pelicans.

For the first time since 2013, all home teams have won Game 1 of the playoffs, with the Thunder becoming the seventh team to do so.

Here are five takeaways from the matchup:

1. Daigneaults differentiation is validated

The day before Game 1, age related inquiries came pouring in, forcing OKC coach Mark Daigneault to defend the teams insignificance to the Thunder in this first round series.

Theres a difference between youth and maturity, and age is just a number he remarked. Being mature at the age of 23 is a positive trait. You don’t have much time left to figure it out if you’re 53 and immature.

It required more than three quarters for OKC to devise a somewhat successful assault strategy against the Pelicans. However, in that stretch of rough and tumble basketball, the Thunder may have validated Daigneaults claim.

Jalen Williams, who was in his first postseason series as a 23 year old second year player, did not resemble the player at all. Jonas Valanciunas was stouter than rookie Chet Holmgren, who tangled with the fury of an experienced veteran.

Meanwhile, Gilgeous Alexander demonstrated why he is a finalist for the Kia MVP award by playing a strong game despite Herbert Joness oppressive defense, which was made worse by a strategy that was designed to stop him.

According to StatMuse, OKC is the youngest No. 1 seed in league history, with an average age of 23.4 Josh Giddey, Holmgren, and Williams all had their first postseason experience in Game 1 where they combined for 21 rebounds and 36 points.

There were 20 lead changes and 13 ties in the match Nevertheless, OKC delivered once more in crucial moments having gone 24-14 in such games throughout the regular season.

2. On the offensive boards Pelicans rule

Oklahoma Citys victory is rather unexpected given how New Orleans controlled the offensive glass.

A late sequence demonstrated how the Thunders troubles with defensive rebounding almost cost them the game. When there were 1:22 remaining in the game and the score was knotted at 90, the Pelicans grabbed three offensive rebounds, which resulted in three missed 3-point tries and another miss close to the basket.

That represents four lost chances for New Orleans with the game in the balance.

The Pelicans outscored OKC 24-11 in second-chance points overall because to their 18-8 advantage in offensive rebounds.

During the first two quarters, that difference was the most noticeable. During that time, OKC only managed two offensive rebounds for two second chance points, while New Orleans grabbed six offensive rebounds for 16 second chance points.

In the end, Valanciunas grabbed nine offensive rebounds, compared to the Thunders total of eight.

Anticipate that OKCs glass problems to persist. In terms of rebounds per game the Thunder finished the regular season ranked 27th.

Prior to Sundays game, the NBA revealed the finalists for the 2023–24 Kia NBA Awards and three players from OKC were selected for four of those trophies.

Gilgeous Alexander was named a finalist by the league for both the Kia MVP and Clutch Player of the Year awards, and Daigneault was named an NBA Coach of the Year finalist. Holmgren was named a finalist for Kia NBA Rookie of the Year only ten days before he turned 22.

Despite having a poor shooting night (11 of 24), Gilgeous Alexander scored 28 points and, with 32.5 seconds remaining, made the game winning play by swishing a 13-foot jumper while being fouled by McCollum. The 25 year old made the subsequent free throw to give OKC a 93-92 lead. With fourteen seconds remaining, Holmgren made another free throw to close off the score.

Holmgren finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks.

4. The absence of Zion Williamson is noticeable.

Williamson had a hamstring injury during the Play In Tournament on Wednesday, which prevented him from playing in Game 1. It is anticipated that he will have another evaluation in about ten days. Williamson is not likely to make a comeback in this opening round.

Without Williamson, OKC can use Dort as an on ball defender against Ingram, which hurts New Orleans in this series It was difficult to get even a little bit of separation on Sunday on shot attempts due to Dorts physical defense of Ingram.

Maybe it explains why Ingram only managed to score 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting.

Ahead of Wednesday s Game 2 (9:30 ET, TNT), Ingram said of Dorts rough defense, Let him do it. I’ll be prepared.

This season, Williamson averaged a team high 22.9 points while playing in a career-high 70 games. Without him, New Orleans went 8-5, but they seem to be more adept at keeping their spacing when the 2019 No. 1 overall pick isnt playing.

Nevertheless, Williamsons influence attacking the paint cannot be understated. In their two regular season matchups with the Thunder, the 23 year old averaged 24.5 points 45.9% from the field 7.5 rebounds and 9.0 assists.

5. the fiery bolts of thunder cool

during the regular season oklahoma city shot 50% or better in 42 games which set a record for the most in a single season in the franchises history and placed them third in the NBA for the 2023 24 season.

Similar numbers are to be expected in this high stakes matchup. That was not the case.

Give credit Trey Murphy III, Brandon Ingram, Jones, and Valanciunas spearheaded New Orleans defense. OKC was only able to shoot 43.5% for the Pelicans. The Thunder shot 35% overall and 22.2% from 3 point range in the first quarter.

its interesting to note that the thunder finished the regular season tied for second place in the NBA in field goal percentage (49.9%), free throw percentage 82.5% and 3 point percentage 38.9% among the top three teams in the league In all three categories no other team in the league finished the season ranked in the top five.