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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s clutch bucket, Cason Wallace’s defense earn Thunder dramatic Game 1 win

Game 1s have a 1st since 2013; Lillard's stat line
Dan Patrick reviews Game 1s from the NBA playoffs, where home teams went 8-0 in all Game 1s of the first round, the first time since 2013, and the average margin of victory was the largest since 2019.

Earlier on Sunday, it was announced that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was one of the three finalists for the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year Award.

Sunday night he showed why.

After a Chet Holmgren block preserved a tie, and with :32 seconds left in the game, SGA drew an and-1 — even if it was a home-court call — that ended up being the game-winner.

That left time for the Pelicans. CJ McCollum got to the rim for a bucket, then on the other end New Orleans fouled Chet Holmgren and he hit one of two free throws, making it 94-92 Oklahoma City with :14 seconds left. That’s when rookie Cason Wallace’s defense helped force McCollum into a tough shot that did not fall.

Oklahoma City now leads the series 1-0, with Game 2 on Wednesday.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 28 points but wasn’t his usual efficient self getting there, shooting 11-of-24. Jalen Williams added 19 points and Chet Holmgren scored 15 with 11 rebounds in his first playoff game.

With Zion Williamson (hamstring) out the Pelicans were counting on a big night from Brandon Ingram, but the defense of Lu Dort and others held him to a dozen points on 5-of-17 shooting. Trey Murphy III led the way with 21 points, and McCollum scored 20.