The Oklahoma City Thunder put on a shooting clinic in Game 2 of their NBA Playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans, cruising to a 124-92 victory. The Thunder shot 59 percent from the field and drained 14 three-pointers, building a lead as large as 34 points.
All five Thunder starters finished in double figures, with three scoring at least 21 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 33 points, followed by Chet Holmgren’s impressive 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Jalen Williams contributed 21 points, while Luguentz Dort added 15 and Josh Giddey chipped in with 13.
The Thunder seized control of the game early with an 11-2 run in the first quarter, never relinquishing the lead. They extended their advantage to 13 points after both the first and second quarters. In the third quarter, OKC stretched the lead even further, and the fourth quarter was all but academic.
The Pelicans, led by Jonas Valanciunas’ 19 points, struggled to keep pace with the Thunder’s offensive firepower. The Thunder’s defense held the Pelicans to just 37 percent shooting from the field and forced 15 turnovers.
With the victory, the Thunder take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series, their first 2-0 lead in a playoff series since 2013. OKC is now 4-0 in series in which they lead 2-0. Game 3 of the series will be played in New Orleans on Saturday at 2:30 pm.
