Williams, Gilgeous-Alexander, lead OKC to a 97-89 Game 4 victory -- and sweep of the Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For all the scoring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does for Oklahoma City, his hustle back on defense after having a shot blocked was a pivotal part of a playoff series-clinching victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

“To win basketball games, a lot goes into it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We just know those little things come with winning and we do it every opportunity we get.”

Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points and 10 rebounds and the Thunder beat the Pelicans 97-89 on Monday night to complete a four-game sweep of their first-round playoff series.

The game turned on a fourth-quarter sequence which began with Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado knocking the ball from Gilgeous-Alexander as he attempted a mid-range shot. Pelicans guard CJ McCollum grabbed the ball and dribbled the other way on a two-on-one fast break against the Thunder's Jalen Williams.

When McCollum's layup attempt missed, Gilgeous-Alexander, trailing from behind, grabbed the rebound.

“I turned it over, clearly. And then they would have got a layup if it wasn’t for Dub,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, referring to Williams’ defense under the basket. “I just wanted to make sure that if he did his part, I was there to do my part”

Soon after, Chet Holmgren’s putback and Josh Giddey’s 3 tied it at 80 and ignited a decisive 18-2 run, capped by Williams’ 3, that put the Thunder up 93-82 with 3:08 left.

“Guys played with great confidence and when we play offense the way we did in the fourth quarter, the shots will go in a little bit more,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, who a day earlier had been named the NBA’s coach of the year. “When we needed to, we really worked together, executed, got great shots. The guys delivered.”

Williams finished with 24 points. Giddey and Holmgren each scored 14 points. Holmgren also had nine rebounds.

“We knew tonight was going to be a challenge,” Giddey said. “Guys came in with the right mindset ... and we put it to bed.”

McCollum scored 20 for New Orleans, which was plagued by poor 3-point shooting. The Pelicans hit just eight of 34 shots from deep (23.5%).

“We were right there,” McCollum said. “This is a really good team we played against. Obviously, they are the No. 1 team for a reason, and it’s disappointing we weren’t able to get one game.”

Jonas Valanciunas had 19 point and 13 rebounds but might have produced more had he not been limited by foul trouble to 26 minutes on the court. Naji Marshall hit half of the Pelicans' 3s and finished with 16 points.

“I loved our fight and the way we battled tonight," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “That’s a special group in that locker room, and what I told them is that there’s no other group that we would rather get on that floor and compete with than that group. They poured it out tonight. Unfortunately, we came up short.”

The Thunder held a 44-43 halftime lead in a game was highly competitive through three quarters, with 18 lead changes and neither team leading by more than five.

“The defense just kind of stabilized us all night,” Daigneault said. "The game never got away from us, despite struggles offensively.

The Pelicans, Daigneault said, “tested our conviction in the game plan and the guys just stuck with it.”

New Orleans stayed close despite Brandon Ingram missing 12 of 14 shots and finishing with eight points — well below his season average of 20.8 points per game.

With the Pelicans missing star power forward and leading scorer Zion Williamson for all four games in the series, New Orleans needed more from Ingram.

“Obviously, with the injury to (Zion) Williamson, that changed the complexion of their team coming into the series,” Daigneault said.

But the normally Ingram was largely frustrated by the physical defending of the Thunder's Lu Dort.

“For Lou to kind of take that challenge and do that is huge for us,” Williams said.

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, in street clothes due to an injury, watches as he sits on the bench in the waning moments of the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. The Thunder won 97-89 to sweep the series and advance to the second round. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) attempts a 3-point shot against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tries to block the shot of New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defends as New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall drives to the basket in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) goes to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes to the basket in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) commits an offensive foul against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) as he drives to the basket in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) slam dunks in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates as he walks off the court after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in New Orleans, Monday, April 29, 2024. The Thunder won 97-89 to sweep the series and advance to the second round. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The 74-year-old Wayne Bennett has ended speculation about his coaching future beyond the 2024 season with NRL newcomer Dolphins by signing a three-year deal to return to South Sydney.

Bennett is one of the most successful coaches in rugby league and in sports in general in Australia.

He has had success with six National Rugby League clubs, winning seven premierships and overseeing more than 900 games. He guided Queensland to State-of-Origin series success and also coached Australia, New Zealand and England at international level.

Bennett said he had unfinished business at South Sydney, where he guided the team to a grand final and two other playoff series between 2019-2021.

“I am going back to Souths for three years,” Bennett told Australian Associated Press on Tuesday. "I like the people there and I like the club and what it stands for.

"I know a number of the players. There is some good talent there and we can do something. I just want to get back there."

The Rabbitohs are languishing in last place in the 17-team NRL with one win from 10 games. Bennett's Dolphins are currently in fourth spot with seven wins despite a heavy injury toll.

Bennett played two games for Australia as an outside back before embarking on a coaching career with the police academy in Queensland state and then clubs in and around the state capital, Brisbane.

He moved into Australia’s top-flight in 1987 and helped the Canberra Raiders to the grand final that year.

He was the foundation coach at the Brisbane Broncos in 1988 and won six premierships there until 2008. He then led St. George-Illawarra to a premiership in 2010 before a three-year stint at Newcastle Knights, followed by a four-year return to Brisbane, which included a run to the 2015 grand final.

After three years at South Sydney, co-owned by actor Russell Crowe, Bennett became the foundation coach at the Dolphins, based in Redcliffe north of Brisbane, on a contact for 2023 and '24. There was speculation that would be his last stint as a head coach.

Bennett never ruled out another contract and was linked last week with Souths.

“We look forward to welcoming Wayne back to the club," Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas said, "and to finishing off what we got so close to achieving in 2021.”

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Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett attends the post match press conference following the NRL Round 10 match between the Redcliffe Dolphins and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia on May 9, 2024. Bennett has ended speculation about his coaching future beyond 2024 with NRL newcomer Dolphins by signing a three-year deal to return to South Sydney next year. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)