A dazzling performance from Josh Giddey helped Oklahoma City move within one game of the next stage of the playoffs after a 21-point victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The victory gave the Thunder a 3-0 lead over New Orleans and will now have the chance to close out the series on Tuesday (AEST).
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Giddey was one of the Thunder’s best against the Pelicans, scoring 21 points and racking up eight rebounds along with six assists.
Jalen Williams and superstar point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also made big contributions with 21 and 24 points, respectively.
Although Giddey’s playoff career is only three games old, his performance in Game 3 against the Pelicans was the best of the lot and proved he could handle the occasion.
He also sent NBA fans into meltdown with a nifty move on the Pelicans’ CJ McCollum early in the second quarter.
Giddey picked up the ball from his own baseline and raced down the court before passing McCollum on the halfway line when he bounced the ball behind his back, sending the Pelicans man into a spin.
The Australian then passed McCollum once again with a Euro step before converting for an easy layup.
THE Thunder Podcast reposted the vision with the caption: “MY GOODNESS”.
Athleticism Andrew Schlecht also described Giddey’s gesture is considered “special”.
It was one of eight field goals Giddey made on 13 attempts, while also converting four of seven three-pointers.
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MAGIC STAR DELIVERS AS A SERIES
The Orlando Magic, with 32 points from Franz Wagner and a dominant second half, beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-89 on Saturday to even their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series at 2-2.
The Cavs, who were eliminated by the Magic in Game 3 in Orlando, scored just 29 points after the break as the Magic erased a nine-point halftime deficit and pulled away relentlessly.
While Magic star Paolo Banchero struggled with just nine points and four rebounds, Germany’s Wagner filled the void, grabbing 13 rebounds with four assists and a blocked shot.
The Magic’s stifling defense made Cleveland’s offense disappear in the second half, when the Cavs went more than six minutes without scoring.
Orlando took full advantage, tearing apart a 31-5 run that lifted them to a 92-70 lead early in the fourth quarter before Caris LeVert ended the Cavs’ drought with a jump shot.
But LeVert was one of several Cavs to endure a rough shooting night, connecting on two of eight attempts en route to five points.
Jarrett Allen led Cleveland with 21 points and nine rebounds, with Cavs star Donovan Mitchell finishing with 18 points.
“Our guys made the right adjustments,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said of his team’s big second half.
“(They) realized it was about the movement of the body and the ball, sharing it, moving it, trusting the pass,” Mosley said, calling their defensive effort “special.” The series returns to Cleveland for Game 5 on Tuesday.
FULL NBA PLAYOFF RESULTS
Magic 112-89 Cavaliers (series tied 2-2)
Pelicans 85-106 Thunder (OKC leads 3-0)
Heat vs. Celtics (series tied 1-1)
Lakers vs. Nuggets (Nuggets lead 3-0)
