Oklahoma City Thunder Starting Lineup
- Western Northwest
- Stadium
- Paycom Center
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams was effective all over the court in Wednesday's Game 2 victory over the Pelicans, scoring 21 points and registering five rebounds and one steal with a game-high seven assists. He was 1-for-3 with the three-ball and shot 10-for-17 from the field. Williams played a significant role as the Thunder had a historic outing -- for the first time ever in the NBA playoffs, a team had all of its points scored by players aged 25 or younger. It's been a strong start for Williams in the series, as he is averaging 20.0 points with 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren had an amazing 20-point first half in Game 2 against New Orleans on Wednesday, adding six further points after the break to help the team to a blowout win. Holmgren exchanged buckets early on with Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas and already matched his Game 1 tally of 15 points in the first quarter. He finished with 9-for-13 shooting, including 3-for-6 from downtown. Holmgren's efforts included the Thunder's only two blocks in the game, and he wrapped up his line with seven rebounds and one assist. The 21-year-old rookie has a tough matchup in the series against Valanciunas, but he's stood tall in the battle so far and boasts some outstanding numbers. With two games played, Holmgren is averaging 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks with 41.7 percent shooting from deep.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 33 points as the team grabbed a 2-0 series lead against New Orleans with a 124-92 victory on Wednesday. After struggling from deep in Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander hit three three-point bombs with five attempts and shot a very efficient 13-for-19 overall. He also bagged a pair of steals and grabbed three rebounds while dishing out five assists. OKC's MVP candidate is averaging 30.5 points through the first couple of postseason games. The Pelicans need to find a way to slow him down if they want to advance to the next round.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (hip) won't play on Friday versus the Bucks. The 21-year-old nearly had a triple-double in Wednesday's blowout over the San Antonio Spurs. But he'll sit this one out because of a bruised hip, meaning his next chance to suit up will be in Sunday's regular-season finale. With that said, Giddey's absence will open up minutes for Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace. However, both men are still hard to trust from a DFS standpoint.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (hip) is listed as questionable ahead of Friday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Giddey is a late addition to the injury report due to a right hip contusion. Luguentz Dort figures to move into the starting five and have increased playing time if Giddey sits out. Cason Wallace is also a candidate for increased playing time, but Dort is the better streaming option between the two of them.