There were no postseason implications on the line this time. No dramatic finish or buzzer-beater. Just a season finale between two teams headed in opposite directions.
With nearly every regular contributor unavailable and Oklahoma City already locked into the top seed in the Western Conference, Sunday’s 115-100 loss bore little resemblance to the high-stakes clashes the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder have had in recent Aprils. This one was about survival, development, and—mercifully—the end of a long, trying season for New Orleans.
Young Guns Show Some Fight
Antonio Reeves closed out his rookie year with another strong performance, posting 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting. It was his third 20-point outing of the season and an indicator that he could play a bigger role heading into next year.
Jamal Cain scored 18 points off the bench, and Lester Quinones added 17 as the Pelicans dressed just eight players for the game. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds—including seven on the offensive glass—while adding 10 points.
Déjà Vu on Defense
The Thunder didn’t bring their starters, but their second and third units had no problem putting points on the board. Oklahoma City jumped out to a 38-19 lead after the first quarter and never trailed, scoring 64 points in the first half and shooting over 45 percent for the game. The Pelicans’ defense, ranked 29th in the league entering Sunday, once again faltered—an issue that’s plagued the team even when relatively healthy this season.
The Road Ahead
The Pelicans finish the season with a 21-61 record—their worst since 2004-05 and the second-worst in franchise history. Injuries decimated the roster, but struggles on both ends of the floor, inconsistent effort, and an overall lack of identity didn’t help either.
Next up: the NBA Draft Lottery on May 12 in Chicago. The Pelicans hold the No. 4 pre-lottery slot and have a 12.5% chance of landing the top pick in what’s expected to be a loaded 2025 class. There’s also a 48% chance they’ll pick in the top four overall.
The offseason will be about finding answers—on the court, in the locker room, and possibly in the front office. One thing’s for sure: change is coming.
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