Oklahoma City Thunder – New Orleans Pelicans: 1st vs 15th
The Thunder and the Pelicans meet for the third and final time this season at the Paycom Center. The West’s top team faces the bottom team, yet New Orleans comes in with the better momentum — odd on paper. That mismatch could still produce a high-quality game out of nowhere.
Oklahoma City Thunder: time to answer 
Usually solid at home, the Thunder have dropped two straight — both to Eastern teams — something that hadn’t happened in a while: Pacers 114-117, then Raptors 101-103. They folded in the clutch both nights. Daigneault will again be without several key rotation players for this one.
Before a tough road swing at Minnesota and Denver, this game is a perfect chance to stop the slide. The Thunder still runs the league’s top offense (120.8) and best defense (107.9), and they’ve got reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who keeps piling up 20-point games like it’s nothing.
INJURY REPORT : Alex Caruso (OUT) – Ajay Mitchell (OUT) – Isaiah Hartenstein (OUT) – Nikola Topic (OUT) – Jalen Williams (OUT) – Cason Wallace (questionable)
New Orleans Pelicans: eyeing another statement win? 
The Pelicans roll in on a two-game streak and — miracle — a nearly clean injury list. For most Pelicans fans that’s basically utopia. Even better: NOLA is 7-1 when Zion Williamson and Herb Jones share the court this season. Having just beaten the Spurs 104-95, they now have a shot to topple No.2 then No.1 in the West in quick succession.
With OKC’s interior weakened, Zion could make a huge difference. The season numbers for James Borrego’s team don’t show the ceiling this roster has when it’s healthy. Sure, they’re near the bottom — 9th worst offense, 3rd worst defense and one of the league’s worst records — but they’ve proved they can bother top teams or even beat them when things click.
INJURY REPORT : Dejounte Murray (OUT)
NBA Pick Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans
Pelicans to win or keep it within 14 points
Season form says the Thunder should win comfortably. But OKC has already lost to teams below them and the Pelicans are hot. Zion can give the Thunder fits, and New Orleans has defensive tricks to throw at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. All the signs point to a closer game than the standings suggest.
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