Adams’ triple-double not enough for win
Steven Adams’ first tripledouble in the NBA and his career-best assist tally was not enough to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to victory against the Kiwi centre’s former side, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points, George Hill hit the go-ahead free throws with 12 seconds left, and the Thunder pipped the Pelicans 111-110 yesterday.
Adams’ no-look flick pass, behind his back, was the pick of his assists but the Pelicans went down to another narrow defeat.
They had the final possession of the game, and top scorers Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson both touched the ball. But it was second-year reserve guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker who took the last shot from three-point range. It rimmed out with a couple of seconds remaining and neither team could control the rebound before the final horn sounded.
Darius Bazley had 20 points and 12 rebounds for Oklahoma City, who avenged a home loss to New Orleans last week while winning for just the second time in six games.
Reserve forward Mike Muscala scored 18 points, hitting five three-pointers, and Hill finished with 13 points.
Williamson scored 29 points and Ingram 24. Steven Adams had 10 points, scoring five points in the final minutes, as well as 11 rebounds and 10 assists, a career high. He put the Pelicans up 104-100 with a putback while he was fouled and later gave New Orleans a 106-103 lead with 95 seconds left.
Gilgeous-Alexander tied it at 106 with a driving layup as he was fouled by AlexanderWalker.
He later baited Lonzo Ball into a shooting foul behind the three-point line and made all three free throws to put Oklahoma City up 109-108 in the final minute.
Williamson’s short turnaround off the glass briefly put New Orleans in front one more time before Al Horford beat the Pelicans to a rebound of Gilgeous-Alexander’s miss and the ball made its way to Hill, who was fouled by Ball to set up the decisive free throws.