Game #26 Preview | New Orleans Pelicans

Tip-Off: 7 PM CT

Location: Smoothie King Center (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Television: ESPN, Fox Sports Oklahoma

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal

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

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Utah Jazz 122-113 on Monday to move to 17-8 on the season, which is the best winning percentage in the Western Conference right now. Paul George continues to look like an MVP candidate, Steven Adams is looking more and more like an All-Star, and despite Russell Westbrook’s shooting woes, he continues to contribute in a number of other ways.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans are not having the success this season that they had hoped to have. At 14-15, New Orleans is 11th in the West, despite Anthony Davis averaging 27.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game. Davis has averaged 27.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals in 16 career games against the Thunder, but he has scored 30+ against the Thunder 8 times, and 40+ against the Thunder twice. Contain him will be key to winning tonight.

Projected Starters

Thunder

• PG: Russell Westbrook
• SG: Terrance Ferguson
• SF: Paul George
• PF: Jerami Grant
• C: Steven Adams

Pelicans

• PG: Tim Frazier
• SG: Jrue Holiday
• SF: Solomon Hill
• PF: Julius Randle
• C: Anthony Davis

Injuries

Thunder

• Andre Roberson (left patellar tendon) is OUT.

Pelicans

• Elfrid Payton (fractured left finger) is OUT.
• E’Twaun Moore (left lower leg strain) is a game-time decision.
• Nikola Mirotić (right ankle) is a game-time decision.

Head-to-Head

• Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 23-13 against the Pelicans (13-6 at home, 10-7 on the road).
• The Thunder has won the season series with the Pelicans seven times and lost it three times.
• The Thunder lost the season series 1-2 against the Pelicans a year ago (0-1 at home, 1-1 on the road).
• The Thunder is 1-0 (1-0 at home, 0-0 on the road) against the Pelicans so far this season.

Game Notes

• The Thunder recently defeated to the Utah Jazz on Monday night, and the Pelicans lost to the Celtics on Monday night.
• Oklahoma City is 7-3 in their last 10 while New Orleans is 4-6 in their last 10.
• Oklahoma City is 7-5 on the road while New Orleans is 10-4 at home.
• Oklahoma City is 8-6 against the Western Conference while New Orleans is 7-9.
• Oklahoma City is 9-4 after one day of rest while New Orleans is 9-10 in games after one day of rest.
• The Thunder is 5-0 on Wednesday night while the Pelicans are 4-3.
• The Thunder is 3-1 in December while the Pelicans are 3-3.
• Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes
• New Orleans Pelicans Official Game Notes

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