OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City scorched the nets and the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night, taking a 2-0 series lead with a 124-92 victory Wednesday night.
The two teams play Game 3 Saturday in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center.
OKC started hot from in close and from the three-point line in opening up a 35-22 lead after one and never really seeing it threatened. The Thunder shot nearly 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from the three-point line while the Pelicans were plagued with inconsistent offensive shooting and a spate of turnovers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 33 points to lead OKC. Chet Holmgren added 26 and the two hit on 22-32 shots on the evening. Jonas Valanciunas had 19 points for the Pelicans while Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones had 18.
The Pelicans helped the Thunder's cause with 17 turnovers, giving an already hot shooting team extra opporunities.
New Orleans was playing without its most dynamic player, Zion Williamson, who strained a hamstring in a play-in loss to the Lakers and who has been sidelined since. The Pelicans are in a Catch-22 situation in that they need to win some games and possibly the first round matchup to get Williamson back but they need Williamson to win some games.