Australian basketball star Josh Giddey looked completely at home in his NBA postseason debut, as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118.
With a date against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the final play-in match on the line, Giddey and his Thunder teammates got to work early on the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
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The Thunder took a 32-29 lead in the first quarter, with Giddey scoring seven points and nothing three rebounds as Oklahoma City teammate Luguentz Dort had 14 points.
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MORE COVERAGE ‘Real MVP’: NBA star’s daughter sends fans into meltdown in ultimate revenge act NBA All-Star’s ugly clash with coach after $308m trade reveal But the visitors would flip the switch in the third quarter and return fire in emphatic fashion as the Thunder scored 39 points to New Orleans’ 24. Giddey exploded to life, scoring 12 in the third to make it 24 points in total. He earned plenty of rave reviews from NBA fans all over the world for his dazzling display. The Pelicans responded in the fourth quarter, taking the match to the wire but the Thunder held on with some clutch free throws wrapping up a six-point win. Giddey finished with a dazzling 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a team-high 32 points, five rebounds and three assists.
