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Yahoo SportsThunder-Pelicans preview: How New Orleans can slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC
We break down the first-round series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans and make our prediction.
The Canadian PressThings to know about the NBA playoffs, which start Saturday
The Boston Celtics had almost no trouble at all with the 14 teams that didn’t make the playoffs this season, going 35-4 against those squads. Against the teams that actually made the postseason, the Celtics were really good as well. Taking into account only the 16 playoff teams — and their games against one another — the No. 1 overall seed Celtics come up No. 1 yet again. Boston went 29-14 against the eventual playoff teams this season, the best such record in the league. Close behind: Oklahoma
The Canadian PressIngram, Valanciunas lift Zion-less Pelicans past Kings and into the playoffs
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hustle plays and production from up and down the lineup helped the New Orleans Pelicans overcome the absence of leading-scorer Zion Williamson, keep their season alive and avoid a historically significant loss. Brandon Ingram scored 24 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans booked a spot in the NBA playoffs with a 105-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings in a play-in tournament elimination game on Friday night. “We stayed togeth
- The Canadian Press
Thunder start playoffs against the Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans (49-33, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (57-25, first in the Western Conference)Oklahoma City; Sunday, 9:30 p.m. EDTBETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Thunder -7.5; over/under is 214.5WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Thunder host first series matchupBOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder host the New Orleans Pelicans to begin the Western Conference first round. Oklahoma City went 2-1 against New Orleans during the regular season. The Thunder won the last reg