Williams scores 26, Thunder rally to top the Pelicans 119-112 after losing a 20-point lead

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder lost a 20-point, second-half lead, but not their composure.

Jalen Williams scored four of his 26 points in the last half-minute, and the Thunder rallied with a 12-0 run during the final 2:31 to escape with a 119-112 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.

“We don't flinch,” said Thunder guard Josh Giddey, who scored 25 points. “You just got to be able to stay level-headed through a swing either way.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points, including a tying 3 with 1:29 left, despite playing through a sore quadriceps that he said has been “a little banged up” since a victory over Utah last Wednesday.

"Most of it’s just trying not to think about it, and just play the game, read and react, and do everything you can to impact the game in a positive way,” Gilgeous-Alexander said before walking gingerly out of the arena.

Zion Williamson had 29 points and 10 assists, and CJ McCollum scored 23 points for the Pelicans, who trailed 88-68 before using a 20-2 run to get themselves — and the crowd — back into the game.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) slam dunks over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6), guard Josh Giddey (3) and forward Kenrich Williams (34) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The Thunder won 119-112. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Trey Murphy III’s 28-foot 3 and McCollum's driving floater gave New Orleans a 112-107 lead with 3:11 left. But the Pelicans did not score again, missing their final five shots.

“We were kind of stagnant and I definitely got to demand the ball more in those situations,” said Williamson, who did not have a shot in the final three minutes.

But Williamson stressed that he is gratified by the opportunity to have a central role in meaningful, late season games for the first-time after injuries sidelined him for New Orleans' past two postseason pushes.

“This is what being competitive is all about,” Williamson said. “These games are fun to play in. We didn't get the result we wanted tonight, but games like this, when I watch playoff basketball, this is what games look like — just down the wire, teams make runs and whoever stays the most disciplined gets the win.

"So, I'm excited for this stretch,” he added.

Chet Holmgren had 16 points for Oklahoma City, which won for the fifth time in six games to pull half a game behind idle Denver for the top spot in the Western Conference.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (50) and forward Naji Marshall (8) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The Thunder won 119-112. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

“I don't think we've really given up leads of that nature the way that we did tonight,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “But you have to be able to handle a lot of different situations in competition and I thought our guys just showed great toughness and poise in a pretty hostile environment against a very sharp opponent that had a lot of momentum.”

Murphy and Herb Jones each scored 16 for New Orleans, which lost for just the second time in eight games and fell out of fourth place in the West.

Oklahoma City “executed better than us the last 2 1/2 minutes of the game,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “Our guys battled. They know that sense of urgency has to be there from the start.”

Oklahoma City shot 62.2% (28 of 45) overall and 50% (10 of 20) from long distance in the first half, when it opened up a 15-point lead.

Williams had 18 of his points in the opening half, and his third 3 of the game gave the Thunder a 71-56 lead. Gilgeous-Alexander's 15-foot turnaround in the final seconds of the second quarter gave Oklahoma City a 73-58 halftime lead.

UP NEXT

Thunder: Host Houston on Wednesday night in the first of two straight at home.

Pelicans: Host Milwaukee on Thursday night in the second of a six-game homestand.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault calls out from the bench in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The Thunder won 119-112. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green calls out from the bench in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The Thunder won 119-112. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander battles under the basket with New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The Thunder won 119-112. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) is blocked as he goes to the basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The Thunder won 119-112. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) and forward Herbert Jones (5) battle for a rebound in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) goes to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) slam dunks in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts after tying the game in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The Thunder won 119-112. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) goes to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) and guard CJ McCollum (3) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The Thunder won 119-112. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) and forward Gordon Hayward (33) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to cause Los Angeles nightmares. As if that isn't enough, the rest of the Oilers' lineup is beginning to add to the Kings' frustrations.

McDavid and Draisaitl had three-point nights on Friday, but Zach Hyman continued his hot streak at the start of the postseason with two goals as the Oilers rode the momentum of three first-period scores to a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round NHL playoffs series.

“Anytime you get up on a ream that's defensive and doesn't give you much makes it easier on you,” said Hyman, who has a league-leading six postseason goals and seven points. “You don't have to force it in, you can play your game and they have to change and open things up. We did a good job of that.”

Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday night.

Hyman, who had a hat trick in Edmonton’s 7-4 Game 1 victory on Monday, became the third player in the past 25 years to score in Edmonton’s first three postseason games when he put in a rebound 6:42 into the first.

The left wing then extended it to 5-1 six minutes into third when the Oilers had a two-man advantage.

Draisaitl also had two goals along with an assist. He became the fastest player in NHL history to reach 20 career road playoff goals on a wrist shot from a tight angle just inside the left faceoff circle with 4:24 remaining in the first to make it 2-0. Draisaitl reached the milestone in 26 games, three quicker than Kevin Stevens and Bernie Nicholls.

Draisaitl also had a power-play goal midway through the third.

“I think our guys were disciplined on entering into the offensive zone. We had a plan and executed it. It wasn't just one or two guys, it was five guys who were committed and connected,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said.

McDavid got his first goal of the postseason late in the first period on the power play to give the Oilers a 3-0 advantage. With two assists, he became the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1987 to have at least eight assists in the first three games. Gretzky had nine in 1987 and eight in 1981.

It was one of three power-play goals for Edmonton, which is 7 for 15 in the series.

“I thought we did a lot of good things. Special teams were great, Stuart (Skinner) was a rock back there. A lot of positives but it just counts as one win,” McDavid said.

Evander Kane added a goal and an assist. He also picked up a rare postseason Gordie Howe hat trick with a 10-minute misconduct penalty in the third period when the game got chippy.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added three assists and Skinner stopped 27 shots as the Oilers posted a Game 3 rout on the Kings’ home ice for the second time in three years.

Drew Doughty had the Kings’ lone goal early in the second period and Cam Talbot made 35 saves.

Doughty's goal, his second of the postseason, got the Kings to 3-1 at 5:32 of the second, but Kane returned momentum back to the Oilers two minutes later with a tip-in of Cody Ceci's shot from the point.

"I mean, we got better. Second period, we had that goal, but they scored right after," forward Kevin Fiala said. "We have to look at some things, we have to get better, and we will. So we have to get second game and that’s it.”

Kings interim coach Jim Hiller pointed to his team's lack of forechecking early as a reason why they fell behind early.

“Their power play scored, ours didn't. It's 2-1 and let's get ready for the next one,” he said.

Kings captain Anze Kopitar played in his 95th career playoff game, passing Luc Robitaille for most in franchise history.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Andreas Englund, left, and Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane fight during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, center, celebrates his goal with center Connor McDavid, left, and center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, right, celebrates his goal as center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skates behind during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane, right, celebrates his goal as Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, left, and center Anze Kopitar look on during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, left, scores on Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, right, celebrates his goal with center Anze Kopitar, center, as Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, second from right, looks on during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, right, celebrates his goal with left wing Zach Hyman, second from right, as Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, center, kneels in goal while defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, left, and center Blake Lizotte watch during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak, left, reaches for the puck along with Los Angeles Kings right wing Viktor Arvidsson during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Vincent Desharnais, right, passes the puck while under pressure from Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson aduring Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, left, celebrates his goal as center Connor McDavid follows during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, center, is scored on by Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, right, as defenseman Mikey Anderson defends during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, right, deflects a shot by Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman before Hyman scored on the rebound during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)