The New Orleans Pelicans got off to a good start but quickly fell apart, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder 106-88, their sixth consecutive defeat.
The Pelicans led 16-6 in the first quarter but allowed the Thunder to close the period with a 24-8 run. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had nine points and former Pelican Kenrich Williams added five off the bench in six minutes on the floor. It was the seventh straight loss to the Thunder for the Pelicans, including last season’s postseason sweep.
It’s the longest losing streak for the Pelicans since they dropped 10 in a row from Jan. 16 to Feb. 2, 2023.
The decisive run came during the third quarter. With the score tied at 59, the Thunder scored 16 unanswered points. Oklahoma City took a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter and the Pelicans never challenged.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 18 points but shot 7-of-18 from the floor and turned it over a season-high eight times. New Orleans tied its season high with 24 turnovers with their miscues leading to 29 points for the Thunder.
Yves Missi was solid, finishing with 10 points (5-5 FG) and 10 rebounds and earning back-to-back double-doubles. Trey Murphy struggled in his second game since returning from injury, finishing with 14 points (2-for-8 3PA) in 26 minutes.
New Orleans failed to find the range from distance, converting only nine of their 37 three-point attempts. This was the third time this season that the Pels made fewer than 10 threes in a game. The Pelicans’ 24.3% shooting from beyond the arc set a new season-low and the team was -18 in points on threes.
Without Chet Holmgren, the Thunder showed the Pelicans what “small ball” should look like. Jalen Williams scored 31 points (10-18 FG, 4-7 3P) and Gilgeous-Alexander added 29. OKC outscored New Orleans 34-2 in fast break points.
The Pelicans will return home for a difficult back-to-back against the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers on Friday and Saturday night.
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