The Oklahoma City Thunder showed their strength in the Western Conference, triumphing over the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series at Paycom Center on Wednesday.

This victory marked a significant improvement from their performance in Game 1, firmly placing them in a 2-0 series lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander displayed exceptional skill, contributing 33 points and five assists to the team’s success.

Chet Holmgren also made a notable impact, showcasing his abilities with 26 points and seven rebounds.

Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the Oklahoma City Thunder

In a post-game interview, Gilgeous-Alexander shared a story about his acquaintance with Chet Holmgren, highlighting the latter’s determination and passion for the game.

Chet Holmgren returned the admiration during an interview, praising Gilgeous-Alexander and even declaring him the MVP of the league, emphasizing his humility.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s remarkable performance has been instrumental in leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the top seed in the NBA, boasting an impressive average of 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game.

He stands as one of the top contenders for the 2023-24 KIA NBA MVP title, alongside Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks and Nikola Jokic from the Denver Nuggets.

Despite their top seed status, the first game was closely contested, with SGA’s clutch play securing a narrow two-point victory for the Thunder. With Williamson absent once again, the team aimed to avoid another tightly contested match at home.