Pelicans Homestand Opens With Crucial Game Versus One Of West's Best Thunder

The Pelicans hope to change their fortune versus the Thunder at home, who've won six of the last seven games against the Pelicans in New Orleans.

Jan 26, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans (44-27) open an important six-game homestand with a matchup versus one of the best teams in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder (49-21). New Orleans is jockeying for playoff positioning with the Los Angeles Clippers for the fourth seed in the West. Oklahoma City remains a game out of the top spot in the conference. Counting last year's NBA In-Season Tournament game, these teams have split their last six games against each other.

Oklahoma City comes in with one of the best offenses in the NBA, led by MVP hopeful, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder are No. 4 in the NBA in scoring (120.3), No. 2 in field goal percentage (49.8%), and third in three-point percentage (38.9%). Gilgeous-Alexander averages 30.5 points per game, just one of three players in the NBA averaging 30 points or more. New Orleans must collectively play solid defense without fouling SGA, who averages the third most free attempts per game in the league.

The Pelicans will again play without Brandon Ingram, who is nursing his hyperextended knee. Trey Murphy III will again get the start in his absence. Murphy III is comfortable in a starting role, having started 65 games last year. With Ingram sidelined, Zion Williamson has shouldered a larger role within the offense. Williamson is averaging 23.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in March, with the Pelicans going 9-2 so far this month.

The Pels bench has also given them a boost on the offensive side of the ball. Both Naji Marshall and Jose Alvarado are shooting over 37% from beyond the arc per 36 minutes. New Orleans is sixth in the NBA in three-point shooting, and their ability to knock down open shots allows Williamson to maneuver the interior. Zion averages the second-most points per game in the paint (17.5). The Thunder are stingy defensively, ranking third in opponent field goal percentage.

Despite being one of the youngest teams in the NBA, the Thunder have been one of the best teams in the league at home and on the road this year. OKC has won six of their last seven games in New Orleans during the regular season, plus a pivotal road win in New Orleans for the Play-In Tournament last year. Both teams are in play to avoid the Play-In Tournament and possibly have home-court advantage in the first round. Tuesday's game opens a six-game homestand for the Pelicans.