After starting with such promise, the New Orleans Pelicans will stumble across the finish line of the most disappointing season in franchise history. It doesn’t feel like a coincidence that the team that ended the prior two campaigns, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will put the lid on the 2024-25 season.
There’s nothing on the line in Sunday’s regular season finale at the Smoothie King Center—just a formality between two teams heading in opposite directions. Oklahoma City is locked into the top seed in the Western Conference. New Orleans is locked into the fourth-best lottery odds, with their focus already shifted toward the draft and long-term organizational questions.
Last April, the Thunder swept the Pelicans out of the playoffs. Today, OKC is a favorite to win the NBA title, while New Orleans will miss the postseason entirely, ending a campaign marred by injuries, internal turmoil, and unmet expectations.
The Thunder come into this one riding a three-game win streak and sporting the league’s best point differential (+12.9). Even without MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or rising stars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City still overwhelmed Utah on Friday behind strong performances from Jaylin Williams, Aaron Wiggins, and rookie Dillon Jones.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans are in full tank mode. Injuries have sidelined virtually every key player, leaving head coach Willie Green with a skeleton crew built around two-way players, rookies, and journeymen. Yves Missi, New Orleans’ most consistent contributor this season, will also sit with an ankle injury, finishing his rookie year with a team-high 73 appearances and 1,956 minutes logged.
What remains of the roster will try to make a respectable showing in front of a home crowd that has seen little to cheer for in recent weeks. Antonio Reeves has been a bright spot, averaging 13.7 points over his last 10 games, while Jose Alvarado continues to set the tone with his energy and playmaking.
The numbers paint a bleak picture. New Orleans has gone 2-8 in its last 10 games, surrendering nearly 120 points per contest while struggling to find consistent offense. By contrast, the Thunder are 8-2 over that stretch, averaging nearly 126 points on 50% shooting.
Following today’s game, the hard questions begin: What direction will the front office take? Is a rebuild imminent, or will another quick-fix approach be attempted?
As the curtain falls on this brutal 2024-25 campaign, there can be no delusions: the New Orleans Pelicans are closer to the league’s basement than its summit, and Sunday’s finale—against the team that symbolizes the path they could’ve taken—is just the final reminder.
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| Oklahoma City Thunder | New Orleans Pelicans |
| G – Isaiah Joe | G – Elfrid Payton |
| G – Aaron Wiggins | G – Jose Alvarado |
| F – Dillon Jones | F – Keion Brooks Jr. |
| F – Kenrich Williams | F – Jeremiah Robinson-Earl |
| C – Jaylin Williams | F – Kylor Kelley |
Injuries
Oklahoma City Thunder: Alex Caruso (ankle), Ousmane Dieng (calf), Lugentz Dort (patellofemoral), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (shin), Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles), Chet Holmgren (back), Nikola Topic (ACL), Cason Wallace (shoulder), and Jalen Williams are OUT.
New Orleans Pelicans: Brandon Boston (left ankle stress reaction), Bruce Brown (right knee soreness), Jordan Hawkins (lumbar spine annular fissure), Herb Jones (right shoulder torn rotator cuff), CJ McCollum (right foot contusion), Yves Missi (left ankle soreness), Trey Murphy (right shoulder torn labrum), Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture), Kelly Olynyk (left Achilles tendinosis) and Zion Williamson (low back contusion) are OUT.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (21-60) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (67-14)
Season Series:
- Nov. 13: Thunder def. Pelicans, 106-88
- Dec. 7: Thunder def. Pelicans, 119-109
- Feb. 10: Thunder def. Pelicans, 137-101
- Apr. 13: Pelicans vs. Thunder
Series History: The New Orleans Pelicans are 32-45 all-time against the Oklahoma City Thunder and have lost five straight in the series.
Where: Smoothie King Center
When: Apr. 13, 2:30 PM CT
Where to watch: Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network
Where to listen: WWL Radio 870 AM
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