Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Versus Herb Jones is Matchup to Watch Ahead of Play-In Game

In just a few short hours, the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans will face off in the Western Conference’s nine versus ten-seed Play-In game.

The winner moves on to face the Minnesota Timberwolves for a chance at making the 8-seed and a 7-game series with the Denver Nuggets. The loser’s chances are immediately snuffed, as they’ll move into off-season mode.

With a 3-1 regular season deficit to NOLA, there’s plenty of storylines to watch for in the upcoming bout, none of which are more important than OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander versus young defensive stalwart Herb Jones.

Gilgeous-Alexander posted one of the most historically efficient seasons for a guard in decades, becoming the youngest guard in history to average over 30 points and 50 percent shooting from the field, the last being Michael Jordan.

Despite that, it’s been rough goings for him versus Jones.

Drafted out of Alabama, Jones burst onto the NBA scene as one of the more

Gilgeous-Alexander shot 13-for-32 (40.6%) and had 9 turnovers when guarded by Herb Jones in 4 games this regular season (21 minutes overall).

In order for Oklahoma City to have a fighting chance, they’re going to need another strong performance from their first-time All-Star. The team was just 2-9 in games in which he shot 40 percent or worse from the field, two of those losses being to the Pelicans.

New Orleans was one of the more aggressive teams regarding trapping and doubling OKC this season. But with days of rest, Gilgeous-Alexander will likely be ready to go.

OKC and NOLA tip off tonight at 8:30 p.m. in Smoothie King Center.

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