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The New Orleans Pelicans have won six games in a row on the road. Their most recent matchup was a 105-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings at home at Smoothie King Center. In addition to six rebounds and six assists, Brandon Ingram scored twenty-four points.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have defeated the Dallas Mavericks 135-86 most recently, capping a run of five straight victories. At Paycom Center, it was an at-home triumph. Ousmane Dieng scored 13 points, Aaron Wiggins scored 14, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15.
The Thunder have defeated the Pelicans on several occasions in a row. Both wins came at Smoothie King Center, where the scores were 107-83 and 119-112, respectively. In their past ten meetings, these clubs have split five victories between each franchise.
Williamson's injury is significant, and the Pelicans will need a number of guys to step up in his place. On Friday night, New Orleans did manage to come up with a winning recipe, powered by Jonas Valanciunas and Brandon Ingram. Trey Murphy III added 16 points, and the New Orleans bench produced many players who scored in double figures. It remains to be seen if these supporting actors can contribute with steady performances.
Let's just say that Oklahoma City is a far superior squad than Sacramento. This is particularly true when the Thunder play at home, where they are 33-8 overall and tied for second place in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets.
At the Paycom Center, the early matchup will be strength vs strength because the Pelicans are stronger away from home (28-14) than at home (21-19). This season, New Orleans' only triumph over Oklahoma City in three attempts came from a 110-106 victory on the Thunder's home court. At the Smoothie King Center, Mark Daigneault's team did succeed in winning the previous two matches by a cumulative score of 31 points.
The Oklahoma City Thunder concluded the regular season atop the Western Conference standings, capping off a remarkable campaign with a five-game winning streak. Their commanding performance throughout the season saw them clinch the coveted first position with an impressive record of 57 victories and 25 losses, notably boasting 33 wins and a mere 8 losses on their home court.
This feat is truly noteworthy, particularly considering that the Oklahoma City Thunder stand as the youngest team in history to lead their conference at the close of the regular season. Much like their elite counterparts, they have demonstrated prowess on both offensive and defensive fronts. They rank third in offensive efficiency and fourth in defensive proficiency across the league, a dual threat matched only by the Boston Celtics. Central to their offensive dynamism is the exceptional talent of Canadian sensation Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who orchestrates their plays with finesse. Moreover, the inclusion of Chat Holmgren adds a pivotal dimension to their strategy, with his adeptness in perimeter shooting and capacity to create spacing for his teammates. Jalen Williams has also exceeded expectations this season, emerging as a significant long-range threat, despite encountering challenges against specific adversaries earlier in the season.
The outcome of this impending series hinges largely on the performance of the Oklahoma City Thunder, as will be evident in this forthcoming encounter. Sustaining their exceptional three-point shooting percentages holds the key to edging closer to triumph. Notably, the Oklahoma City Thunder led the league in three-point shooting efficiency, underscoring their offensive prowess.
Meanwhile, despite clinching a playoff berth, the New Orleans Pelicans find themselves in a less-than-ideal position ahead of this matchup. Disappointment looms following their loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in two crucial games that could have secured their playoff spot earlier, necessitating an additional showdown against the Sacramento Kings.
In addition to their playoff woes, the injury to Zion Williamson casts a shadow over their prospects, with doubts lingering over his swift recovery to feature in this series. Compounding their woes, Brandon Ingram's suboptimal fitness status poses concerns, significantly diminishing his effectiveness on the court. With defensive capabilities to rival formidable adversaries, the New Orleans Pelicans face a glaring predicament on the offensive end, particularly in light of their opponents' robust defensive prowess. The Oklahoma City Thunder boast the highest number of steals and blocks this season, further complicating matters for the Pelicans. The reliance on CJ McCollum as a primary game-changer has dwindled, especially when juxtaposed with opponents who excel in close contests, a domain where the Pelicans exhibit notable shortcomings.
The New Orleans Pelicans have showcased their ability to secure victories through defensive prowess in the regular season, underscoring the pivotal role this facet will play in their quest for success in this encounter. Moreover, they possess players capable of containing the opposition's key figures and potentially disrupting their efficiency, offering a glimmer of hope amidst challenging circumstances.
