Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans have had a deeply disappointing season, ranking among the league's biggest letdowns. They’re on track to end up 14th in the Western Conference, holding a dismal record of 21 wins against 60 losses. Going into their last game, the team is struggling, weighed down by a six-game losing streak, with their latest loss being a crushing 153–104 defeat at home to the Miami Heat.

That said, the Pelicans have been hit hard by injuries all year, arguably making them the unluckiest team in the NBA. Key players like Zion Williamson, who appeared in only 30 games, Dejounte Murray (31 games), Trey Murphy (53 games), CJ McCollum (56 games), and Herbert Jones (20 games) missed significant time. With so many absences, it’s no wonder the Pelicans couldn’t climb higher in the standings. Despite his limited playtime, Zion Williamson still led the team in scoring, averaging 24.6 points per game.

In contrast, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been nothing short of spectacular, standing out as the regular season’s top team. They’ve been relentless and consistent, locking in the Western Conference’s number-one seed well before the season closed. Their record boasts an impressive 67 wins and just 14 losses. In their most recent outing, they dominated the Utah Jazz on the road, winning 145–111.

Under head coach Mark Daigneault’s stellar leadership, the Thunder have made remarkable strides this season, positioning themselves as strong playoff contenders in the West. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been exceptional, likely on his way to the MVP award, with a league-high 32.7 points and 6.4 assists per game. The Thunder’s stats speak for themselves: they lead the league with the stingiest defense, allowing just 108 points per 100 possessions, while their offense ranks third, averaging 120.6 points per 100 possessions. It’s easy to see why they’ve ruled the court all season long.

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the other team 145-111. Their third straight victory came at Delta Center on the road against the Utah Jazz. Isaiah Joe scored 32 points, Kenrich Williams scored 18, and Aaron Wiggins scored 35 points.

The New Orleans Pelicans have now lost six straight games after their defeat last time. The Miami Heat defeated them 153-104 at home at Smoothie King Center. Antonio Reeves scored 19 points, Keion Brooks scored 14, and Jamal Cain scored 25 points.

The last time these clubs faced each other, the Thunder prevailed. At Paycom Center, the team defeated the Pelicans 137-101. The Thunder have defeated the Pelicans nine times in a row. In the last ten head-to-head meetings, they have won nine of them.