New Orleans PelicansOpen full analysis
Oklahoma City ThunderOpen full analysis
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 104–95 on January 27 at Paycom Center, holding the visitors well below the Vegas total of 233.5 in a defensive showcase. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 29 points, while Chet Holmgren added 20, anchoring a Thunder offense that shot just 40.2 percent but compensated with 13 three-pointers and 9 blocks. New Orleans, paced by Zion Williamson's 21 points and Scottie Barnes' 16, struggled offensively at 34.3 percent and managed only 10 threes despite matching OKC's 25 assists. The decisive stretch came in the second quarter, when Oklahoma City outscored New Orleans 31–32 to build momentum, while the Pelicans' third-quarter collapse (23 points) sealed their fate. OKC's defensive rating of 99.3 clamped down effectively despite New Orleans' 13 steals, and the Thunder's 16 turnovers proved manageable against the Pelicans' 8. The loss underscores New Orleans' offensive inconsistency and OKC's emerging defensive identity as the season progresses.
