The Oklahoma City Thunder put on their worst performance of the season on Saturday in a 118-105 loss in Houston to the Rockets, a game that was never even close. The Thunder hopes to put that one in the past, however, as they travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans on Monday night.
The Pelicans 4th in the Western Conference standings right now with an 11-8 record, but they are missing Brandon Ingram (left great toe contusion) and CJ McCollum (health and safety protocols), which is a significant blow to their backcourt. OKC thrives in the backcourt, so they will need to take advantage of the opportunity against New Orleans because the Pelicans have Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas playing down low. If the Thunder cannot figure out a way to slow down the Pelicans big men, then they could be in for another long night.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Smoothie King Center (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, New Orleans Pelicans Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Josh Giddey
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Aleksej Pokusevski
- C: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Pelicans
- PG: Jose Alvarado
- SG: Devonte’ Graham
- SF: Herbert Jones
- PF: Zion Williamson
- C: Jonas Valanciunas
Injury Report
Thunder
- Chet Holmgren is OUT (right foot surgery).
- Mike Muscala is OUT (fractured left pinky).
- Eugene Omoruyi is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Lindy Waters is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Jaylin Williams is OUT (G League — on assignment).
Pelicans
- Brandon Ingram is DOUBTFUL (left great toe contusion).
- Kira Lewis Jr. is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- E.J. Liddell is OUT (right knee ACL injury recovery).
- Naji Marshall is QUESTIONABLE (non-covid illness).
- CJ McCollum is OUT (health and safety protocols).
- Larry Nance Jr. is QUESTIONABLE (right shoulder soreness).
- Dereon Seabron is OUT (G League — two-way).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 31-18 against the Pelicans (17-8 at home, 14-10 on the road).
- The Thunder has won the season series with the Pelicans 9 times, tied it once, and lost it 4 times.
- The Thunder went 2-1 against the Pelicans last season (1-1 at home, 1-0 on the road).