Thunder use second half surge to beat Pelicans, move on in NBA play-in tournament

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The Oklahoma City Thunder used a second half push to take down the New Orleans Pelicans on the road in the NBA play-in tournament, 123-118. 

The Thunder will now move on to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday for the chance to secure the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference for the first round of the NBA playoffs. 

The game was going back and forth late in the fourth quarter, as both teams traded buckets to keep the game close. The Pelicans used an early fourth-quarter run, scoring seven straight points to pull within two, and it remained close to the end. 

Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots against Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on April 12, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana.  (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s biggest star, did what All-Stars do: Come in clutch. 

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Down by one, Gilgeous-Alexander took a transition pass after a CJ McCollum miss and made an awkward driving layup to go up one with 28.1 seconds left to play. 

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Brandon Ingram would miss the Pelicans’ next possession, which cracked the door open for OKC to put this one away. 

Josh Giddey and Lu Dort hit clutch free throws, but Ingram redeemed himself by hitting a three-pointer to bring the lead down to one. 

But it was Gilgeous-Alexander who iced it with more free throws to move on in the tournament. 

Gilgeous-Alexander had just seven points at the half, but he finished the game