Oklahoma City dominated the New Orleans Pelicans 137-101 during their game on Monday night, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the Thunder by scoring 31 points in just three quarters.
The Thunder established a new franchise record by sinking 27 three-pointers, a feat accomplished despite no individual player hitting more than four. A total of eleven players contributed by hitting at least one three-pointer, resulting in an impressive 49% success rate from beyond the arc, having attempted 55 shots.
In addition to Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar performance, Aaron Wiggins scored 24 points and Jalen Williams added 16 to the Thunder’s tally. This latest victory marks the sixth consecutive win for Oklahoma City.
Chet Holmgren, playing in only his second game since recovering from a fractured pelvic bone, contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and five blocks. Holmgren’s playing time increased to 25 minutes, showing his gradual return to form after participating in 22 minutes against Toronto the previous Friday.
With this win, Oklahoma City’s record improved to an impressive 43-9, positioning them as the best team in the NBA, while the Pelicans fell to a disappointing 12-41, reflecting their struggles in the Western Conference.
For the Pelicans, Trey Murphy III was the leading scorer with 23 points, followed by Zion Williamson, who added 17 points to the scoreboard.
The Thunder held a commanding lead of 72-50 at halftime, setting an Oklahoma City record by scoring 14 three-pointers in the first half alone, nearly matching that number with 13 in the second half.
The Pelicans faced significant challenges as they played without Dejounte Murray, who is sidelined for the season due to a ruptured right Achilles tendon, and CJ McCollum, who missed the game for personal reasons. This severely limited their scoring options and capacity to compete.
On the other hand, the Thunder capitalized on their defensive prowess by scoring 40 points off 23 forced turnovers. With Holmgren back in action, Oklahoma City has strengthened their ability to protect the rim effectively.
A key highlight of the game came early on, when Holmgren made a three-pointer for the Thunder’s first points and followed it up with two notable blocks against Karlo Matkovic within just 30 seconds, signaling a strong defensive strategy from the get-go.
The Thunder’s bench also made a significant impact, contributing 31 points during the first half. Among them, Wiggins scored 14 points, including two three-pointers, while Alex Caruso added 12 points and connected on four shots from beyond the arc before halftime.
Looking ahead, the Pelicans will be hosting the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, while the Thunder will face off against the Miami Heat later that same day.
This story has been updated to reflect corrections made to an earlier version which contained an incorrect final score.
