Thunder overcome playoff inexperience in Game 1 win vs. Pelicans

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OKLAHOMA CITY -- Entering the playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder were the youngest team in NBA history to secure a No. 1 seed since seeding began in 1984.

After missing the playoffs the past three seasons and working on a rebuild, the Thunder's reward as the top seed in the strong Western Conference was facing the 49-win New Orleans Pelicans, who had to fight through the play-in tournament but also boasted a league-best record on the road.

Seven of the 11 Thunder players who took the floor Sunday night were playing in their first playoff game. The relative inexperience showed itself at times in the fourth quarter, but the team also came through when they most…