The Oklahoma City Thunder begins preseason action on Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans in Tulsa at the BOK Center. This is the Thunder’s 16th time playing a preseason game at the BOK Center, a tradition that has taken place nearly every year since the team’s arrival in OKC.
The Thunder will be without their presumed starting 5—as well as Alex Caruso—due to rest, and Thomas Sorber and Nikola Topic are out as they manage minor injuries. The Pelicans will start with their regular rotation, but as it is the first preseason game, their starters are likely to see limited minutes. While preseason games offer little insight as to how the regular season will go for either team, this first game is a fun opportunity for fans to see their players back in action.
The Thunder and the Pelicans are entering the 2026-27 campaign with very different expectations. OKC is expected to make a run at another NBA Finals, while the Pelicans will likely hang out towards the bottom of the Western Conference yet again. In the offseason, the Thunder saw the departures of long-time members Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins, but the changes may not be that noticeable with the emergence of Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, and Jared McCain. Mitchell and McCain should start tonight’s game, and their offensive capabilities should be on full display against the Pelicans’ questionable defense from a season ago.
This is the first game of a back-to-back, with the second game in OKC against the Milwaukee Bucks tomorrow, so don’t be surprised if head coach Mark Daigneault goes deep into his bench tonight. Either way, tonight’s matchup will serve as a fun opportunity for fans in Tulsa to see the Thunder play as the preseason finally gets underway.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: BOK Center (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Television: Thunder+
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
X (formerly known as 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: Ajay Mitchell
- SG: Jared McCain
- SF: Kenrich Williams
- PF: Brooks Barnhizer
- C: Jaylin Williams
Pelicans
- PG: Dejounte Murray
- SG: Trey Murphy
- SF: Herbert Jones
- PF: Zion Williamson
- C: Yves Missi
Injury Report
Thunder
- Alex Caruso (rest) is OUT.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (rest) is OUT.
- Isaiah Hartenstein (rest) is OUT.
- Chet Holmgren (rest) is OUT.
- Thomas Sorber (knee injury recovery) is OUT.
- Nikola Topic (back) is OUT.
- Cason Williams (rest) is OUT.
- Jalen Williams (rest) is OUT.
Pelicans
- Bryce McGowens (fractured toe recovery) is PROBABLE.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 42-21 against the Pelicans (21-10 at home, 20-11 on the road) in the regular season and 4-0 against them in the playoffs (2-0 at home, 2-0 on the road).
- The Thunder has won the season series with the Pelicans 12 times, tied it once, and lost it 4 times.
- Last season, the Thunder went 3-0 against the Pelicans in the regular season (2-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- The Thunder has won 13 straight games (2024 playoffs included) against the Pelicans.