Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Key Thunder Players to Watch vs. the Pelicans in NBA Playoffs | Game 4 - April 29

Joel Embiid carries the weight of expectations differently than others. As his fanbase and national media have constructed stories that have him as the potential messiah in a decade-long process of experimental team-building, coupled with the unusual rabidity of Philadelphia sports fans, he has accepted this role sincerely.

Thunder vs. Pelicans: Players to Watch

Thunder Key Players

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's numbers on the season are 30.1 points, 5.5 boards and 6.2 assists per contest, shooting 53.5% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc, with an average of 1.3 made treys.

Chet Holmgren is averaging 16.5 points, 2.4 assists and 7.9 boards.

Jalen Williams averages 19.1 points, 4 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

Giddey is averaging 12.3 points, 4.8 assists and 6.4 rebounds.

Luguentz Dort is averaging 10.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

Pelicans Key Players

Per game, Brandon Ingram gives the Pelicans 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists. He also averages 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks.

CJ McCollum averages 20 points, 4.3 boards and 4.6 assists. He is also draining 45.9% of his shots from the floor and 42.9% from beyond the arc (seventh in league), with 3.6 treys per game (third in league).

Jonas Valanciunas averages 12.2 points, 8.8 boards and 2.1 assists. He is sinking 55.9% of his shots from the field.

The Pelicans receive 11 points per game from Herbert Jones, plus 3.6 boards and 2.6 assists.

Trey Murphy III averages 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He is making 44.3% of his shots from the floor and 38% from 3-point range, with 3 triples per game.

Thunder vs. Pelicans Stat Insights

Oklahoma City Key Stats

The Thunder are outscoring opponents by 7.4 points per game with a +608 scoring differential overall. They put up 120.1 points per game (third in the NBA) and give up 112.7 per contest (11th in the league).

Oklahoma City comes up short in the rebound battle by an average of 2.7 boards. It is collecting 42 rebounds per game (27th in the league) compared to its opponents' 44.7 per contest.

The Thunder connect on 13.3 three-pointers per game (eighth-most in the league) at a 38.9% rate (first in the NBA), compared to the 13.4 their opponents make while shooting 36.1% from deep.

Oklahoma City averages 117 points per 100 possessions on offense (third in the league), and allows 109.1 points per 100 possessions (fourth in the NBA).

New Orleans Key Stats

The Pelicans have a +362 scoring differential, topping opponents by 4.4 points per game. They're putting up 115.1 points per game, 13th in the league, and are giving up 110.7 per contest to rank eighth in the NBA.

New Orleans ranks 12th in the league at 44 rebounds per game. That's 1.7 more than the 42.3 its opponents average.

The Pelicans hit 12.5 three-pointers per game (18th in the league), while their opponents have made 13.5 on average.

New Orleans scores 115 points per 100 possessions (10th in league), while giving up 110.1 points per 100 possessions (seventh in NBA).

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