After Chet Holmgren's injury earlier this week, there were a ton of questions about whether or not the Oklahoma City Thunder would be able to secure victories with no center in their rotation. In just two games without Chet, the Thunder are slowly but surely figuring it out.
Despite a lackluster start to the first quarter, OKC managed to turn things around quickly and eventually took control of the entire game. Beating the Pelicans 106-88, the Thunder had themselves yet another masterclass defensive performance.
Thunder and Lightning
As stated before the game, the key pieces needed to secure a win from an offensive standpoint would have to come from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. And safe to say, they did not disappoint tonight.
JDub had an amazing game with 31 points, six rebounds, seven assists and a pair of back-to-back blocks on attempted dunks. No matter where he was on the floor or what he was doing, Williams always found a way to bring the energy to the game and be the spark for this Thunder team.
Per usual, SGA did SGA things. Scoring 29 points while also putting up five rebounds, five assists and two steals, Shai was consistent across the board. Whether it was the mid-range game or strong drives to the paint, the Pelicans could not find an answer for the MVP candidate.
For the rest of the Thunder team, they continued to prove why they are heads above anyone else defensively. Forcing 23 turnovers as well as snagging 16 steals and seven blocks, it is incredible to see how aggressive and successful OKC is on the defensive end (all without a center).
Looking ahead to the Thunder's next game, it will be a big one. OKC will host the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Nov. 15 at 8:00 PM EST/7:00 PM CDT.
Got the dub at home ✔️ pic.twitter.com/pX2pVrjX6X
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 14, 2024
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