OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander converted on a three-point play and the New Orleans Pelicans scored only a single basket in the game's last 3 minutes and 34 seconds, in one case squandering three offensive rebounds, as the Oklahoma City Thunder survived the opening game in the Western Conference playoff series Sunday night, 94-92.
A C.J. McCollum desperation three-point try from 35 feet was off the mark at the buzzer.
"A lot of positives throughout the course of the game," said head coach Willie Green. "Our game plan discipline was at a high level. Our defense was solid. Offensively, we got quality looks but didn't knock them down."
The Pelicans had the Thunder on their heels for most of the game but without the consistent offensive threat of Zion Williamson, who is out with a strained hamstring, the Pelicans had to rely on rebounding and defense to push the Thunder to the limit.
Brandon Ingram hit only 5 of 17 shots and C. J. McCollum converted on just 9 of 22 shots as the Pelicans converted only 38 percent of its shots in the game, continuing a troubling trend of losing on close games this season.
Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 points to lead the Thunder, while Trey Murphy had 21 points and McCollum had 20 for the Pelicans, who fell behind 0-1 in the series.
The Pelicans just had no "go to" guy at game's end.
In probably the deciding sequence, with the game tied at 90 Herb Jones missed a three-point try, but Larry Nance got the rebound. McCollum then missed a three-point try and Jones got the rebound. Ingram then missed a three-point try and Nance got another rebound. Holmgren then blocked a Nance shot inside the paint. Four tries, no points.
"We needed to be more poised, when we got those rebounds... we took some shots and we had 14 seconds left on the shot clock... I thought we got a little sped up when we had those opportunities."
Gilgeous-Alexander answered with his three-point play to decide the game. McCollum had a chance down two in the final seconds but he lost the ball and then put up a desperation shot that missed the mark.
The Pelicans and Thunder play game two Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.
Jonas Valinciunas had 20 rebounds and 13 points for the Pelicans.
