Oklahoma City is playing its final game before the All-Star break on Thursday night. They’re hoping it will help them get back on track.
The Thunder dropped the last two games of their most recent homestand, marking the first time that OKC fell in back-to-back games in nearly a month.
Although Oklahoma City outscored both the Celtics and the Spurs inside the paint, they made only 11 3-pointers in each game and went 11-for-31 in their loss to San Antonio.
Thursday night’s game will be the final regular-season game between the Thunder and the Pelicans. OKC has swept the first three matchups, however, New Orleans was playing without No. 1 overall draft pick Zion Williamson.
Williamson is coming off his first career 30-point performance in the Pelicans win over Portland. The rookie went for 31 points, with nine rebounds and five assists.
Since his return, the Pels have posted a 5-4 record.
Even without Zion, each of the games between OKC and New Orleans has been progressively closer.
The two games in November were decided by 11 and five points, respectively, while the last Thunder win on Dec. 1 was by just three points.
For OKC, Chris Paul is also coming off a 31-point performance. He was the high scorer in the Thunder’s loss to San Antonio.
Although Oklahoma City had five players in double-figures, the combination of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dennis Schroder, and Danilo Gallinari were 12 points below their combined average on the season.
As Billy Donovan told ESPN that OKC doesn’t “have a big margin for error”, and that they need everybody to play up to their potential in order to have a chance to win.
New Orleans could be without All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, who was listed as questionable on Wednesday with an ankle sprain.
Thunder rookie Darius Bazley remains out with a bone bruise to his right knee.
Oklahoma City and the Pelicans will tip-off inside the Smoothie King Center at 7 p.m. CT.
