Tip-Off: 5 PM CT

Location: Smoothie King Center (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Television: FSOK, NBA TV

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal

Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game

The Oklahoma City Thunder dropped their third loss in a row on Friday, a 126-125 overtime letdown. The loss moved the Thunder down to sixth in the West, and today’s matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans will have an immediate impact on their spot in the standings.

The Pelicans are only a half game behind the Thunder in the West, and New Orleans already owns the tiebreaker. Oklahoma City is on thin ice from here on out, and tonight could literally be a must-win for the Thunder in order to get into the playoffs.

Projected Starters

Thunder

• PG: Russell Westbrook
• SG: Corey Brewer
• SF: Paul George
• PF: Carmelo Anthony
• C: Steven Adams

Pelicans

• PG: Rajon Rondo
• SG: Jrue Holiday
• SF: E’Twaun Moore
• PF: Anthony Davis
• C: Emeka Okafor

Injuries

Thunder

• Andre Roberson ( left patellar surgery) is OUT.

Pelicans

• Alexis Ajinca (right knee injury) is OUT.
• DeMarcus Cousins (left achilles rupture) is OUT.
• Frank Jackson (right foot fracture) is OUT.

Head-to-Head

• Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder are 21-13 against the Pelicans (12-6 at home, 9-7 on the road).
• In nine seasons, the Thunder has won the season series with the Pelicans seven times and lost it twice.
• The Thunder is 0-2 against the Pelicans so far this season (0-1 at home, 0-1 on the road).
• The Thunder swept the Pelicans 4-0 last season.
• Jerami Grant grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds against the Pelicans on February 2nd in Oklahoma City.
• Anthony Davis scored 43 points against the Thunder on February 2nd in Oklahoma City. That is the highest number of points by a single player allowed by the Thunder all season long. He shot 17/34, the most field goals made and attempted by a single player against the Thunder all season long.

Game Notes

• Oklahoma City has lost three games in a row, and New Orleans has also.
• Oklahoma City is 6-4 in the last 10 games, and New Orleans is 5-5.
• Oklahoma City is 18-20 on the road, while New Orleans is 22-16 at home.
• Oklahoma City is 25-23 against the Western Conference, while New Orleans is 22-24.
• Oklahoma City is 25-20 after one day of rest, while New Orleans is 25-21 after one day of rest.

Be sure to check out this week’s episode of Thunder Things with the Thunder Guys.

Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook.