Oklahoma City (USA), Apr 29 (EFE) .- Forward Zion Williamson scored 27 points as the leader of the attack by the New Orleans Pelicans, who beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 95-109 at home and continue in the fight to be in the Western Conference playoffs.
Williamson also had eight rebounds and six assists, while power forward Brandon Ingram added 24 points as the second-leading scorer.
The Spanish center Willy Hernangómez, who started again in the position of New Zealander Steven Adams (sprained right ankle), responded again as the best in the inside game by getting a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, including seven defensive.
The former Real Madrid player played 29 minutes in which he scored 5 of 8 field goals, missed a triple attempt, and hit 3 of 4 from the personnel line.
While he also distributed an assist, he recovered two balls, lost three, put a block and committed four personal fouls.
The Pelicans are in pursuit of the 10th spot in the Western Conference and a spot in the play-in tournament. They had lost six of eight and were coming off a 114-112 loss to Denver on Wednesday.
Canadian forward Lu Dort scored 17 points, French rookie point guard Theo Maledon added 16 and center Moses Brown grabbed 18 rebounds like the best of the Thunder, who are already out of the playoffs.
The Pelicans closed the first half on a 19-3 streak to take a 43-60 lead. Williamson scored 16 points and Ingram added 15 in the first half that helped the Pelicans hit 51 percent shooting from the field.
The New Orleans team took a partial advantage of 68-79 in the last quarter of the game.
New Orleans took full control in the opening minutes of the fourth period. A dunk from reserve center Jaxson Hayes on the fast break put the Pelicans up 73-90.
Thunder didn’t get closer to 12 points the rest of the way, while the Pelicans took the victory despite scoring just 5 of 29 3-pointers.
(c) EFE Agency