The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points with eight assists and five rebounds to lead the Thunder to a 106–85 win in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series with the New Orleans Pelicans. Oklahoma City takes a 3–0 series lead. No team has ever rallied from a 3–0 series deficit to win an NBA playoff series

Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams both added 21 points. Giddey also contributed eight rebounds and six assists.

Excellent outside shooting propelled the Thunder to their decisive victory. Giddey went 4-for-7 from three-point range, while Lu Dort shot 4-for-8. Williams nailed three of his four three-point attempts. As a team, Oklahoma City shot 47 percent (17-for-36) from behind the arc, providing a significant advantage over the Pelicans, who shot 31 percent (9-for-29) from three.

Zion Williamson’s absence still being felt
Brandon Ingram led New Orleans with 19 points, his best total of the series thus far despite Dort playing tough defense on him.

However, Ingram didn’t provide enough scoring punch to make up for the absence of Zion Williamson, who hasn’t yet appeared in the playoffs while he recovers from a hamstring injury suffered during the Pelicans’ first game of the play-in tournament.

Ingram is also working his way back from a knee injury that sidelined him for 12 games toward the end of the regular season.

C.J. McCollum added 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while Herb Jones scored 16 points.