Thunder beat short-handed Pelicans 106-88 for 2nd straight win without injured forward Chet Holmgren

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (AP) — Jalen Williams scored 31 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 29 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 106-88 on Wednesday night.

The victory was the second straight for the Thunder without Chet Holmgren. Oklahoma City was coming off a 134-128 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

Lou Dort scored 11 points and Aaron Wiggins added 10 for Oklahoma City (10-2), which broke a 59-all tie with a 16-0 run in the third quarter for a 75-59 advantage.

Williams shot 10 for 18, including 4 for 7 from long distance and had seven assists. Gilgeous-Alexander made 12 of 25 shots and the Thunder converted 15 of 39 shots from 3-point range.

Brandon Ingram scored 18 points, Trey Murphy added 14 and Yves Missi had 10 points and 10 rebounds for New Orleans (3-9), which outrebounded Oklahoma City 58-31, but was slowed by 24 turnovers. The Pelicans played without Jose Alvarado, Herb Jones, CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray and Zion Williamson, who were all reported as injured.

Holmgren will miss at least eight weeks with a pelvic fracture after a hard fall during Sunday’s loss to Golden State. The 7-foot-1 forward/center had been one of the league’s most efficient scorers and top shot blockers.

Oklahoma City trailed 16-6 early, but closed out the first quarter on a 24-8 run for a 33-28 lead. Gilgeous-Alexander had nine points and Kenrich Williams contributed five off the bench in six minutes, including a 3-pointer.

Oklahoma City played a guard-heavy lineup for the second straight game since losing Holmgren and committed just seven turnovers, two days after turning the ball over only 11 times in a win over the Clippers

The Pelicans host Denver on Friday, while the Thunder host Phoenix, also on Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) dunks as New Orleans Pelicans guard Brandon Boston Jr. (11) watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, right, tries to steal the ball from New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans guard Javonte Green (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng, right, secures the ball against New Orleans Pelicans center Trey Jemison III, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrates near New Orleans Pelicans guard Javonte Green (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

DUBLIN (AP) — World Rugby has postponed a decision on the future of 20-minute red cards which are being trialled in the ongoing autumn rugby tests.

Referees have the option to use the temporary red cards for technical fouls and a full red card for blatant foul play. Offenders receiving 20-minute red cards are sin-binned and replaced by a teammate after 20 minutes. Two such red cards were issued last weekend to Fiji wing Semi Radradra and Scotland lock Scott Cummings.

The World Rugby council decided on Thursday it was too early to decide whether the experiment should become a law.

“With cross-hemisphere international matches having only just begun, in line with the recommendation, the council decided to delay consideration of the 20-minute red card trial until the conclusion of the autumn nations series to enable further feedback and full data analysis to be considered,” World Rugby said in a statement.

The French and Irish federations have opposed the 20-minute red cards, claiming it poses a health risk. But the likes of Wales coach Warren Gatland support it.

Other proposals that were made law by the World Rugby council included:

— 60-second shot clock on conversions, aligned with penalties

— 30-second setup for lineouts, aligned with scrums

— play-on rule in uncontested lineouts when the throw is not straight

— scrumhalf protection during scrums, rucks, and mauls.

However, proposals for a global trial to call a mark inside the 22 at kickoff and restarts, and for single-stop mauls, did not receive the required support.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

South Africa's Jaden Hendrikse, left, kicks the ball clears the ball as Scotland's Scott Cummings, right, attempts to charge the ball down during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and South Africa in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)