Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans by 106:85 in game 3.
Zion Williamson was sidelined due to injury and was not part of the New Orleans Pelicans roster.
After four minutes of play, the New Orleans Pelicans had a 9:5 lead, which was also the last moment they led in the game. Jaylin Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander created a comeback by the end of the first period, and the Oklahoma City Thunder maintained that momentum throughout the game, leading by 23:19 at the end of the first quarter.
The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t play poorly during the second quarter, but it was towards the end of the first half that the visiting team made a significant difference. Luguentz Dort‘s outstanding shooting performance led to a 15:0 run in favor of his team, giving the Oklahoma City Thunder a 14-point lead after 24 minutes of play – 60:46.
The Pelicans managed to narrow the deficit to single digits at times, but the visitors countered the rival’s surge with three consecutive successful three-pointers, extending their lead to a significant 16 points heading into the crucial final 12 minutes of the game. The home team had no chance in the fourth quarter, resulting in a debacle. Oklahoma City Thunder did not ease off until the end of the game, securing a significant win.
The top scorer for the home team was Brandon Ingram with 19 points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stood out for the Oklahoma City Thunder with 24 points. Josh Giddey and Jaylin Williams each contributed 21 points.
Oklahoma City Thunder leads the series 3-0, and they will have the opportunity to ‘sweep’ the New Orleans Pelicans on the road in just two days.