Thunder storms to 2-0 lead

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Just a few days ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder looked like a young team struggling through their first playoff game together.

On Wednesday night, they looked like grizzled playoff veterans.

Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points and the top-seeded Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Gilgeous-Alexander, from Hamilton, said the Thunder remained focused instead of worrying about outside issues such as other highly seeded teams struggling at home.

“I think it just goes back to us prioritizing winning,” he said. “And all those things are distractions that get in the way of winning. And every night, all 15 of us go to bed and want to win the next game, want to win the next day. And we do everything we can to do so.”

Chet Holmgren had 26 points and seven rebounds and Jalen Williams added 21 points for the Thunder, who shot 59% from the field and made 14 of 29 3-pointers.

Jonas Valanciunas scored 19 points and Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram added 18 each for the Pelicans.

In Game 1, Valanciunas had 20 rebounds, including nine offensive, and the Pelicans outrebounded the Thunder 52-44. On Wednesday, Oklahoma City outrebounded New Orleans 37-35 and held the Pelicans to eight offensive boards.

The Pelicans continued to struggle on offense without top scorer Zion Williamson, who remained out with a strained left hamstring. Ingram, New Orleans’ No. 2 scorer in the regular season, got off just 10 shots in Game 2 as Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort, from Montreal, harassed him throughout the night. Ingram made just 5 of 17 field goals in Game 1. The Thunder also scored 22 points off New Orleans’ 18 turnovers.

Game 3 is Saturday in New Orleans.