The Oklahoma City Thunder (1-2) will have its usual starting lineup on the court on Thursday night against the New Orleans Pelicans (2-2).
Center Al Horford and guard George Hill will be back after missing the game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, head coach Mark Daigneault said during the pregame Zoom press conference.
Horford was out for rest purposes Tuesday on the second night of a back-to-back.
Hill missed the game due to neck spasms.
Oklahoma City lost 118-107 on Tuesday without those two and will look to even its record at two wins and losses apiece against the Pelicans.
Horford in particular will be important against New Orleans, who has Steven Adams and Zion Williamson at the center and power forward positions, respectively. The Thunder struggled to defend the post against the Magic without Horford in the lineup.
The Thunder’s 3-point shooting was also worse against the Magic than it was against Utah. Horford and Hill alike will look to help that.
The full starting lineup will be Hill, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Darius Bazley and Horford.
The Pelicans’ lineup for all four of their first games was Lonzo Ball, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Ingram, Williamson and Adams. Their lineup against the Thunder has not been officially announced.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
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