After leading by as many as 10 points early, the New Orleans Pelicans were routed by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 95-81, dropping the Pelicans to 0-4 in the NBA 2K26 Summer League.
New Orleans led 20-10 early, but Oklahoma City dominated the final three quarters. Although the team drastically cut down the turnovers from Tuesday night, it still had nearly twice as many as the Thunder (14-8).
The Thunder shot 46% from the field and 35% from deep while the Pelicans made just 37% of their shots and 23% on triples. OKC doubled up New Orleans in steals, 10-5, and points off turnovers, 18-9.
The Pelicans, playing without Derik Queen, Micah Peavy, and Yves Missi, got standout performances from Trey Alexander and Jeremiah Fears.
Alexander led all scorers with 25 points, converting 7-of-13 shot attempts, including five of his nine three-pointers. It was a strong comeback for the second-year guard after he struggled mightily in his first two appearances. Alexander entered the game with only three points on 1-for-8 shooting. Against the Thunder, he showcased the scoring ability that made him the G-League’s third-leading scorer at more than 26 points per game.
But the story of the night was the all-around offensive game of rookie Jeremiah Fears. The number seven overall pick hadn’t found a rhythm after two games, but has shot the basketball much better in his last two contests. After going 6-of-11 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Fears made eight of his 15 attempts Wednesday night, scoring 22 points in 30 minutes of action.
Fears was able to score in a variety of ways, in both half-court and transition situations. He showcased his quick-twitch athleticism with the basketball in his hands and his ability to get to the rim. He distributed to others, finishing with six assists. Fears also grabbed six rebounds on the defensive end.
He also showed the rough edges that still need smoothing. Fears had four more turnovers against the Thunder, giving him 20 in four games. His outside shot still hasn’t come around. After going 1-of-5 beyond the arc, Fears is just 3-for-17 overall from distance. He also missed three of his eight free throws.
Defensively, Fears has a long way to go. But that is to be expected. It does appear that his future is bright in the NBA. The biggest variable for Fears will be how quickly his defense and shooting improve. If he’s going to carve out a consistent role on a team competing for a playoff spot, it’ll be necessary.
In the front court, Christian Shumate was solid with six points and 10 boards. Shumate has shown a high level of activity in the last two games. Two-way player Hunter Dickinson added eight points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.
Brooks Barnhizer led the Thunder in scoring, filling the stat sheet with 19 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. OKC had five players score double figures. Chris Youngblood scored 14 points with two assists. Jazian Gortman added 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, and a pair of blocks, with Branden Carlson and Erik Reynolds II coming off the bench to add 10 points apiece.
The Pelicans will face the Indiana Pacers at 8:00 pm on Friday to close their summer schedule.
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