With the Thunder clinging to a three-point lead late in Game 4, Jalen Williams put the team on his back.
Williams sandwiched two big threes around two made free throws on a personal 8-0 run late in Oklahoma City’s 97-89 win over New Orleans, sweeping their first-round series.
He also nabbed two steals and blocked a shot, the last steal coming right after the first triple, when he pickpocketed Brandon Ingram and turned it into free throws.
The second-year guard scored 24 points, tied for the game high with teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He also grabbed eight rebounds, impressive for a 6-foot-5 player who plays power forward for the Thunder. Despite a healthy size disadvantage, the Thunder hung with the Pelicans on the boards all series.
They’ll now get some time off as they await the winner of the Clippers-Mavericks series, which is tied at 2-2. But Oklahoma City, the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history, didn’t look inexperienced or scared at all in what was nearly every Thunder player’s first playoffs.
Whatever veteran-laden team advances, the Thunder — and the do-everything Williams — will be ready.