OMGGGGGG

Brandon Ingram finished with 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting in a game New Orleans desperately needed him to control.

Instead, a shot at stealing Game 1 from the Thunder slipped through his fingers.

How can the Pelicans get him going?

✍️ Will Guillory

theathletic.com/5434887/2024/0…

Brandon Ingram on adjusting to Lu Dort's physical defense in Game 2:

'Let him do it. I'll be ready. Let him do it.'

Brandon Ingram's 12-point performance tonight was the fewest he's scored in the first 7 playoff games of his career.

He was held below 20 only once in his six games against Phoenix two years ago.

Final: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92

Murphy 21 pts
McCollum 20 pts (9-22 FG)
Ingram 12 pts (5-17 FG)

Pels had a golden opportunity to steal a game in OKC but allow it to slip away in final seconds. Tough shooting night from BI turned out to be a killer. Thunder take 1-0 lead.

Pels got 4 looks at the basket with the score tied at 90. Zero points.

Shai knocks down a massive and-one on the other end to put OKC up 93-90 with 32.5 seconds left. Could be the deciding sequence in this game.

So, Pels get the ball and OKC ends up getting a free challenge. Really strange, but big break for Pels.

BTW OKC could've just let Chet win the jump ball and none of this would've mattered.

Allowing a challenge in this situation seems really strange

Since falling behind by 10 early in the 4th, Pels have outscored OKC 18-6. BI just converted a layup in transition to give his team a 90-88 lead.

Pels have been excellent on defense tonight.

Pelicans players with 20+ rebounds in a playoff game:

Jonas Valanciunas (2x, including tonight)

End of list

Kenneth Murphy III is hooping

Naji Marshall is quietly having another nice game off the bench. Pels fell down by 10 and he immediately got two steals that ignited their transition offense.

Trey and CJ come up with 3-pointers to make it 82-79 with 8:52 remaining.

End of 3rd: Thunder 74, Pelicans 68

Murphy 16 pts
McCollum 13 pts (6-15 FG)
Ingram 10 pts (4-12 FG)

OKC finally got Shai and Jalen Williams going in the 3rd and it's allowed them to seize control. Pels need BI and/or CJ to step up to keep this one from slipping away.

Jalen Williams does not look like a dude playing in his first playoff game

Thunder and Pels were 1st and 5th, respectively, in points off turnovers in the regular season. Both teams combined for 7 points off TOs in the 1st half.

Protecting the ball will be huge in 2nd half.

End of 1st half: Pelicans 43, Thunder 43

McCollum 9 pts (4-12 FG)
Ingram 8 pts (3-10 FG)
Valanciunas 6 pts, 10 rebs

Both teams are locked in on the defensive end. Physicality is already at a playoff level. Pels are winning the 2nd chance points battle 16-2. JV gotta keep it up.

Think this might be one of the better defensive halves I've seen from Trey Murphy all year. Him, BI and Herb have been swarming Shai every time he tries to attack.

Lu Dort just picked up his 3rd foul. Could be a nice time for BI to get aggressive before the end of the half.

A Thunder fan gets 30 seconds to sink a half-court shot for $20,000 and ends up drilling it 🔥

The Arena is loving it!!

(via Darnell Mayberry)