New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Preview
The New Orleans Pelicans will be hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, as the two teams meet for the third time at the 2015-2016 NBA season.
During both encounters, the third-seeded Thunder emerged victorious.
When they first met on November 18th, during the onset of the season, Oklahoma won by a seven-point margin, with a tally of 110-103. In the said game, Russell Westbrook took advantage of the injury-laden Pelicans at the time, as he piled in 43 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Big man Enes Kanter assisted him with 24 points and 14 rebounds.
During their second encounter on February 11th, the Pelicans were once again dealing with a burden, as Ingrid Williams, wife of assistant coach Monty Williams, died in a car crash two nights prior. But it did not stop Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday for piling in 23 points apiece.
As a unit, the team shot 43.2 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from beyond the arc. Guard Norris Cole also added in 15 points, five rebounds, and six assists. Their efforts, however, were not enough to ward off the Thunder. Superstar franchise player Kevin Durant finished the game with 23 points, three rebounds, and six assists. Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, piled in 23 points, nine rebounds, and ten assists.
The game ended with a score of 121-95. As a unit, the Thunder shot 52.3 percent from the field, and 37.5 percent from the three-point country. The Oklahoma City Thunder currently holds a win-loss slate of 41-16, winning three of their last six games.
The Thunder last played against the Dallas Mavericks, where they won with a final tally of 116-103. The New Orleans Pelicans, on the other hand, are situated at the twelfth spot at the Western Conference standings with a record of 22-34.
They have managed to win four of their last six games, but their most recent one on Tuesday against the Washington Wizards ended in a twenty-point loss with a final score of 109-89.
