Who are the biggest X-factors in the OKC Thunder vs Pelicans Play-in game?
By Rylan Stiles
The OKC Thunder have to find other scorers around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will depend on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to drop his season-average 30 points or more in this contest. The New Orleans Pelicans defend Gilgeous-Alexander well, with Herb Jones and a cast of defenders. However, part of the reason the Pelicans can double-team SGA is his teammates are not making them pay for it.
It will be critical in this game for Isaiah Joe and Lu Dort specifically to catch fire from beyond the arc. Joe has been a consistent three-point shooter this season, despite his recent slump; against the Pelicans, he made three or more triples in two of the four games, leaving the Thunder record at 1-1 in those games.
For Lu Dort, he has not had a consistent season on the offensive end, but a hot-shooting night along with the defense he provides on the other end of the floor, would unlock a new gear for the OKC offense and help the Thunder push past the Pelicans.
Against the New Orleans Pelicans this season, Lu Dort shot 31 percent from beyond the arc, Joe shot 33 percent from deep, and Josh Giddey turned in a stellar 43 percent from three-point land.