Mark Daigneault explains Jonas Valanciunas’ declining playing time against Thunder

NEW ORLEANS — As the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first-round matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans has progressed, Jonas Valanciunas’ playing time has dwindled. It was painfully obvious in the Thunder’s Game 3 blowout win over the Pelicans. The 31-year-old played a series-low 12 minutes and was benched in the second half in favor of Larry Nance Jr. In his 64 total minutes on the court this series, the Pelicans have been outscored by 26 points. Valanciunas’ matchup against the small and fast Thunder was one of the swinging points heading into this series and it has predictably played in OKC’s...