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Scores, Results, Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder beat New Orleans Pelicans, Reaction, Josh Giddey's skill move against CJ McCollum, Latest Updates

A stunning performance from Josh Giddey helped Oklahoma City move one game closer to the next stage of the playoffs after a 21-point win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The win gave the Thunder a 3-0 series lead over New Orleans and will now have a chance to wrap up the series on Tuesday (AEST).

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Giddey was one of the Thunder's best players against the Pelicans, scoring 21 points and collecting eight rebounds and six assists.

Jalen Williams and superstar point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also made big scoring contributions with 21 and 24 points, respectively.

Although Giddey's postseason career is only three games old, his performance in Game 3 against the Pelicans was the best of all and proved he's up to the challenge.

He also sent NBA fans into a frenzy with a clever play on the Pelicans' CJ McCollum early in the second quarter.

Giddey picked up the ball from his own baseline and drove up the field before flying past McCollum at the halfway line as he bounced the ball around his back, sending the Pelicans man into a tailspin.

The Australian beat McCollum again with a euro-step before converting for an easy layup.

The Thunder Podcast reposted the vision with the caption “MY GOODNESS.”

The Athletics Andrew Schlecht also described Giddey’s move as “special”.

It was one of Giddey's eight field goals made in 13 attempts, while also converting four three-pointers in seven.

Nuggets get closer to defeating Lakers | 01:24

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LAKERS END NUGGET'S CURSE

The Los Angeles Lakers, powered by 30 points from superstar LeBron James, stayed alive in the NBA playoffs with a 119-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Losing 3-0 to the defending champions and facing elimination, the Lakers held firm at home, survived a triple-double from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and sent the series back to Denver for Game 5 on Monday.

After the Lakers let their double-digit leads evaporate in the first three games, James scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to ensure something like that didn't happen again.

“I love the fourth quarter,” James said. “I realize it's time to finish the game and we haven't been able to do that against this team in the last three games.

“So tonight I had the opportunity to do that and I wanted to deliver,” added the 39-year-old, who hit six of eight shots in the final period, had a tackle and a steal that he followed up with a dunk on the other End.

But the four-time NBA champion wasn't ready to celebrate the Lakers' first win over Denver in 12 games since December 2022, knowing no NBA team has ever been able to overcome a 3-0 deficit to clinch a playoff series to win.

“We’re still down 3-1,” he said. “So every game will be its own challenge. We took care of extending the series tonight, but we still have to do better.”

Anthony Davis added 25 points and a whopping 23 rebounds for Los Angeles. Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell each scored 21 points.

Russell repaid the trust of coach Darvin Ham, who kept him in the starting lineup after going scoreless in the third game.

Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic scored 33 points with 14 rebounds and 14 assists.

Michael Porter Jr. added 25 points and 10 rebounds and Jamal Murray added 16 for the Nuggets in the loss.

BOSTON BACK IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

In Miami, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 22 points, with Tatum adding 11 rebounds and six assists, as the Celtics led from start to finish in a 104-84 victory over the Heat.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 18 points and Derrick White added 16 for the Celtics, giving the Heat the fewest points of any Celtics opponent this season.

“That's where we're going to win games on defense,” Tatum told broadcaster TNT, adding that even if the shots aren't falling, “if you get stops, you can make it happen.” Boston seemed to have recognized this early on and led 21-12 after the first quarter before pulling ahead by 42 points in the second period.

Leading by 24 points at halftime, they dominated every facet of the game and scored 19 points off Miami turnovers. They extended the lead to 29 in the second half.

Miami, which had just nine three-pointers in its Game 2 win after raining down 23 treys, will look to regroup when it hosts Game 4 on Monday.

Tatum posted a double-double for the Celtics in the third. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

MAGIC STAR DELIVERS AS A SERIES

The Orlando Magic, featuring 32 points from Franz Wagner and a dominant second half, defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-89 on Saturday to even their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series at 2-2.

The Cavs, eliminated by the Magic in Game 3 in Orlando, scored just 29 points after halftime as the Magic erased a nine-point halftime deficit and relentlessly pulled away.

While Magic star Paolo Banchero struggled with just nine points and four rebounds, Germany's Wagner filled the void, grabbing 13 rebounds with four assists and a blocked shot.

The Magic's suffocating defense made Cleveland's offense disappear in the second half as the Cavs went scoreless for more than six minutes.

Orlando took full advantage, going on a 31-5 winning run that gave them a 92-70 lead early in the fourth quarter before Caris LeVert ended the Cavs' losing streak with a jump shot.

But LeVert was one of several Cavs who survived a tough shooting night, hitting two of eight attempts en route to five points.

Jarrett Allen led Cleveland with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Cavs star Donovan Mitchell finished with 18 points.

“Our guys made the right adjustments,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said of his team’s great second half.

“(They) realized it was about the body and ball movement, sharing it, moving it and trusting the pass,” Mosley said, calling their defensive performance “special.” The series returns to Cleveland for Game 5 on Tuesday.

FULL NBA PLAYOFF RESULTS

magic 112-89 Cavaliers (series tied 2-2)

Pelicans 85-106 thunder (OKC leads 3-0)

Heat 84-104 Celts (Celtics lead 2-1)

Lakers 119-108 Nuggets (Nuggets lead 3-1)

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