The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a narrow 94-92 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday, April 21 at the Paycom Center.
The Thunder benefited from a raucous home crowd in Oklahoma City throughout the evening, which likely contributed to their series opener win.
Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault commented on the impact of the crowd, who gave his team an edge in a game where every advantage mattered.
"I mean it was awesome. They were great. Really from the jump. That was a true home court advantage, even down stretch in the game," the 39-year-old tactician said in the post-game press conference.
Oklahoma City has earned a reputation for having one of the loudest arenas in the NBA. This distinction dates back to the early 2010s when future NBA MVPs Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden played for the team.
Mark Daigneault is a Coach of the Year candidate
Meanwhile, Daigneault is among the candidates to win this year's NBA Coach of the Year award, along with Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jamahl Mosley of the Orlando Magic.
The Massachusetts native guided the Thunder to a remarkable turnaround this season, securing the top seed in the highly competitive Western Conference after missing the playoffs last year.
Daigneault has already won this year's NBCA Coach of the Year award, which is awarded by the National Basketball Coaches Association.
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