In the second Western Conference play-in game to be contested Wednesday, Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will try to continue his incredible season by leading a young Oklahoma City Thunder team back to the playoffs.
The 10th-seeded Thunder will have to win two games to make it in, and it starts with a matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Here is everything you need to know about the remaining Western Conference play-in matchup.
(9) Pelicans vs. (10) Thunder
When: Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT in New Orleans
Regular season series: Pelicans won 3-1
Spread: Pelicans -5.5 (via Sports Interaction)
Key matchup: Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Pelicans’ perimeter defenders
Just as it has been all season, the Thunder will go as far as Gilgeous-Alexander can take them. Finishing the season as the league’s fourth-leading scorer after averaging an incredible 31.4 points per game, the Canadian guard proved he’s one of the league’s premier talents.
The Pelicans’ main game plan defensively will most certainly revolve around stopping the young Canadian. New Orleans will likely try to throw one of its more versatile forwards at Gilgeous-Alexander, and hope the length and athleticism of players like Herbert Jones or Naji Marshall can disrupt his playmaking ability.
But it most definitely will be a team effort, because the Pelicans know if they limit Gilgeous-Alexander, they most likely win the game and move one step closer to the eighth seed.
Why the Pelicans will win: They are the more complete team. It’s as simple as that.
Even without Zion Williamson, who is not expected to return from injury any point soon, New Orleans still has a good enough collection of talent to win meaningful games.
Brandon Ingram will lead the way on offence, just as he did on Sunday against the Timberwolves when he scored a game-high 42 points while also grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out seven assists. When he gets his shot going, his length makes him an extremely difficult matchup for any defender
New Orleans also has the experience edge on the Thunder. CJ McCollum and former Toronto Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas both play big minutes for the Pelicans and should be a steadying presence in a game of this magnitude.
Why the Thunder will win: Because they shouldn’t be here in the first place.
Hear us out. No one predicted the Thunder would even sniff the playoffs. So, just based on the fact that they are here, they should be able to play loose and free with zero expectations on them.
The Thunder are the youngest team in the NBA, with an average age of just 23.14, and they were expected to be one of the league’s bottom-dwellers. Instead, they find themselves battling for the final playoff spot.
Don’t get us wrong, the Thunder have the talent to win this game. Gilegeous-Alexander is incredible and can single-handedly win a game for the Thunder. Add in fellow Canadian Luguentz Dort, who is already one of the best defensive stoppers in the league and Josh Giddey, who can do it all on the basketball floor, and you have a group of talent that can give any team trouble.
But the Thunder are young and have the most draft capital in the league over the next seven seasons. So, can they win? Yes. But even if they don’t, they are still ahead of where many thought they would be at this point. So it’s all gravy for Oklahoma City at this point, which could be a huge advantage.
Prediction: Thunder over Pelicans
Gilgeous-Alexander seems to play his best when the world is watching. Expect him to lead the Thunder one step closer to the NBA post-season.
The winner of the Pelicans/Thunder game will face off against the Timberwolves for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference on Friday.
