Josh Giddey matched a career-high 31 points to go with 10 assists and nine rebounds as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118 on Wednesday night to remain alive in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
The loss eliminated the ninth-seeded Pelicans, while 10th seed Oklahoma City advanced to play at Minnesota on Friday night for the right to enter the NBA playoffs as an eighth seed and meet No 1 Denver.
“It was pretty much everything I expected; a loud, hostile environment,” the 20-year-old Australian said of his playoff debut. “And it’s going to be a similar environment in a do-or-die game (against the Timberwolves).”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted his 32-point night with a go-ahead baseline jumper and four clutch free throws in the final 29 seconds for Oklahoma City, the only Western Conference team still playing with a losing record.
Giddey was at the heart of the action in the do-or-die game, powering the scoring early before Gilgeous-Alexander exploded in the third quarter.
“We’ve been battle tested. We’ve played in a lot of close games all year, for the past couple of years,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Even when the season wasn’t going our way, we played in a lot of close games and we have good habits and we know what gets it done down the stretch.”
Brandon Ingram scored 20 of his 30 points in the second half, including a three-pointer with 4.3 seconds left to give the Pelicans a slim chance to come back.
But after Gilgeous-Alexander hit two free throws, Herbert Jones threw away an inbound pass, virtually sealing New Orleans’ fate.
Lu Dort scored 27 for the Thunder, including a pair of free throws with 6.2 seconds left.
Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and 18 rebounds for New Orleans, but checked out with 4:26 after apparently hurting his right foot. He returned only briefly in the final minute.
Trey Murphy III scored 21 points, Jones had 20 and CJ McCollum 14 for the Pelicans, who a season ago went 2-0 in play-in games as a ninth seed to advance to the first round of the playoffs.
This time New Orleans, who were at the top of the Western Conference standings in December, were left to wonder what might have been had Zion Williamson not gone out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury on 2 January.
New Orleans led 69-62 early in the third quarter before the Thunder surged in front with a 13-2 run capped by Gilgeous-Alexander’s driving layup as he was fouled.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 in the period and Giddey added 12, including his third three of the game to give Oklahoma City a 95-85 lead.
But New Orleans quickly tightened the game back up early in the fourth with a 7-0 run that included reserve guard Josh Richardson’s 3 that pulled the Pelicans to 98-96.
The Pelicans went back in front when Richardson’s steal and breakaway dunk made it 101-100, but as the Thunder came back up the court, Richardson was called for a foul after knocking Giddey to the floor near midcourt. Giddey angrily came to his feet and started angrily toward Richardson. Teammates held both at bay while officials called for a video review and determined that Richardson had committed a flagrant foul.
Giddey made one of two free throws to tie it and set the stage for an intense finish.
Chicago Bulls 109-105 Toronto Raptors
Zach LaVine scored 39 points, DeMar DeRozan had 23 against his former team and the Chicago Bulls overcame a 19-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 109-105 in a play-in tournament game Wednesday night.
The Bulls will visit the Miami Heat on Friday night for the chance to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket, and a first-round playoff matchup with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls, who trailed 66-47 in the third quarter but took the lead by making four of seven attempts from three-point range in the fourth. Chicago shot 3 for 19 from distance through the first three quarters.
Fred VanVleet had 26 points and 12 rebounds and Pascal Siakam scored 32 points, but Toronto’s season ended in disappointment as the Raptors – with DeRozan’s daughter, Diar, screaming when they shot – went a dismal 18 for 36 at the free throw line. Toronto missed six attempts from the line in the fourth quarter.
Scottie Barnes had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, and OG Anunoby scored 13 points.
Chicago’s Alex Caruso connected from the corner to tie the score at 91-all with 7:08 left in the fourth quarter and Patrick Beverley’s 3 with 5:07 remaining gave the Bulls a 96-93 lead. It was Beverley’s first basket of the game.
VanVleet’s three with 3:11 to go knotted it again at 100-all, but LaVine and DeRozan replied with baskets for the Bulls.
Barnes and Siakam each made one of two at the line inside the final two minutes, and VanVleet missed a three that would have tied the game.
Siakam’s driving dunk with 19 seconds left cut it to 105-104. After a timeout, LaVine pushed the lead to three with a pair of free throws. Caruso fouled Siakam on a 3 but the Raptors star missed his second and third attempts.
The Raptors led 28-23 after one and VanVleet connected on a halfcourt heave at the halftime buzzer as Toronto extended its lead to 58-47.
VanVleet’s three with 9:09 left in the third gave Toronto a 19-point edge, but the Bulls shaved the gap and trailed 81-72 heading to the fourth.