After a few short years of no postseason action, the Oklahoma City Thunder make their return to the NBA Playoffs in a major way as the top-seeded team in a stacked Western Conference. At 57-25, the Thunder had their best season since 2014, and expectations are as high as they have been in a long time. The Thunder are heavy favorites in the opening round as they prepare to take on the New Orleans Pelicans.
At 49-33, the Pelicans improved upon their season last year by 7 games, but it ultimately only moved them up one total spot in the standings. Last year, the Thunder defeated the Pelicans in New Orleans in the 9 vs. 10 Play-In Game, and this year the Pelicans lost to the Lakers in the 7 vs. 8 Play-In Game. In their second opportunity at making the playoffs, the Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings, and now they prepare to enter into an arena that is sure to be true to its namesake of Loud City.
The Thunder are fresh off a weak of rest, while the Pelicans played basketball just two nights ago and will be without their young star Zion Williamson, who strained his left hamstring late in the game against the Lakers last Tuesday night. Williamson is likely to miss a chunk of the first round, if not all of it.
OKC wants to make a statement in their return to the playoffs, so they cannot simply shrug off the Pelicans. New Orleans has developed a reputation for their tenacious defense, and the Thunder are no stranger to playing a gritty brand of basketball. Maintaining home court advantage is essential to playoff success, and kicking off the series with a big win tonight would go a long way for the Thunder’s hopes of a deep playoff run.
Tip-Off: 8:30 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: TNT
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: Jalen Williams
- C: Chet Holmgren
Pelicans
- PG: CJ McCollum
- SG: Brandon Ingram
- SF: Trey Murphy III
- PF: Herbert Jones
- C: Jonas Valanciunas
Injury Report
Thunder
- NONE
Pelicans
- Zion Williamson is OUT (strained left hamstring).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder are 34-21 against the Pelicans (17-10 at home, 17-11 on the road).
- The Thunder have won the season series with the Pelicans 10 times, tied it once, and lost it 4 times.
- The Thunder went 2-1 against the Pelicans last season in the regular season (1-1 at home, 1-0 on the road) and 1-0 in the play-in round of the postseason (1-0 on the road).
- The Thunder went 2-1 against the Pelicans this season (0-1 at home, 2-0 on the road).