On January 27, 2026, Oklahoma City beat New Orleans 104-95 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder match player stats show how the Thunder ended a two-game skid. Oklahoma City entered 37-10, while New Orleans arrived 12-36 after two consecutive wins.
Seven Thunder injury absences reduced their normal rotation, while Dejounte Murray remained out for New Orleans. Oklahoma City won through better shooting, third-quarter control, and a ten-point edge in second-chance scoring.
Match Overview
This article covers the most recent completed regular-season meeting between the teams. Oklahoma City protected its league-leading position and avoided its first three-game losing streak. New Orleans stayed within two points at halftime before Oklahoma City created separation after the break.
| Match detail | Information |
| Date | January 27, 2026 |
| Venue | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City |
| Competition | 2025-26 NBA regular season |
| Final score | Thunder 104, Pelicans 95 |
| Records entering | Pelicans 12-36, Thunder 37-10 |
| Records afterward | Pelicans 12-37, Thunder 38-10 |
| Attendance | 18,203 |
| Officials | Ed Malloy, JB DeRosa, John Conley |
| Game duration | 2 hours, 15 minutes |
Pre-Match Context
Oklahoma City entered with the NBA’s best record, but it had lost two consecutive home games. The Thunder needed a win to prevent their first three-game skid that season. New Orleans had won two straight after spending most of the season near the Western Conference bottom. The Pelicans needed another result to continue that recovery.
Injuries forced Oklahoma City to change its usual rotation. Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Cason Wallace, and Alex Caruso could not play. Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topic, and Thomas Sorber were also unavailable. New Orleans remained without Dejounte Murray because of his ruptured right Achilles.
Quarter-by-Quarter Score
The teams combined for only 31 points during the opening quarter. New Orleans then outscored Oklahoma City during the second period. The Thunder controlled the third quarter before protecting their advantage during New Orleans’ final comeback attempt.
| Period | Pelicans | Thunder | Period margin |
| First quarter | 14 | 17 | Thunder +3 |
| Second quarter | 32 | 31 | Pelicans +1 |
| Third quarter | 23 | 31 | Thunder +8 |
| Fourth quarter | 26 | 25 | Pelicans +1 |
| Final | 95 | 104 | Thunder +9 |
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter
Both teams struggled during their opening possessions. Oklahoma City missed its first eight shots, while New Orleans started 1-for-9. Neither offense established a consistent shooting rhythm. The Thunder finished the quarter ahead 17-14.
Second Quarter
New Orleans produced 32 second-quarter points and erased most of its early deficit. The Pelicans’ rebounding and ball movement kept the score close. Luguentz Dort made a three-pointer with 10.9 seconds remaining. That basket gave Oklahoma City a 48-46 halftime lead.
Third Quarter
Chet Holmgren drove Oklahoma City’s decisive third-quarter run. He scored 14 points and collected seven rebounds during the period. Ten of Oklahoma City’s 31 third-quarter points followed second-chance opportunities. Holmgren’s three-pointer created a 74-64 lead with 3:38 remaining. The Thunder entered the fourth quarter ahead 79-69.
Fourth Quarter
Oklahoma City extended its advantage to 17 points early in the fourth quarter. New Orleans answered with a 14-2 run and reduced the score to 92-87. Jeremiah Fears completed that run with a banked jump shot. Dort then made his fourth three-pointer, moving the lead to 98-87.
Saddiq Bey and Jaylin Williams received technical fouls following a late confrontation. Fears and Dort also grabbed each other’s jerseys with nine seconds remaining. Players and staff separated them before the game concluded.
Team Stats Comparison
New Orleans created extra possessions through offensive rebounds and forced turnovers. Oklahoma City converted its chances more efficiently from every shooting area. The Thunder also turned fewer offensive rebounds into more second-chance points. That conversion difference helped offset their higher turnover total.
| Statistic | Pelicans | Thunder | Difference |
| Field goals | 34-99 | 35-87 | OKC shot 5.9% higher |
| Field-goal percentage | 34.3% | 40.2% | Thunder +5.9% |
| Three-pointers | 10-40 | 13-38 | Thunder +3 makes |
| Three-point percentage | 25.0% | 34.2% | Thunder +9.2% |
| Free throws | 17-22 | 21-23 | Thunder +4 makes |
| Free-throw percentage | 77.3% | 91.3% | Thunder +14.0% |
| Offensive rebounds | 21 | 13 | Pelicans +8 |
| Total rebounds | 54 | 53 | Pelicans +1 |
| Assists | 25 | 25 | Even |
| Steals | 13 | 4 | Pelicans +9 |
| Blocks | 11 | 9 | Pelicans +2 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 16 | Pelicans committed 7 fewer |
| Points in the paint | 44 | 38 | Pelicans +6 |
| Second-chance points | 16 | 26 | Thunder +10 |
| Fast-break points | 13 | 10 | Pelicans +3 |
| Biggest lead | 5 | 17 | Thunder +12 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
The numbers show Oklahoma City overcoming its turnover and rebounding disadvantages through shooting and second-chance conversion.
- Oklahoma City shot 40.2%, while New Orleans finished at 34.3%.
- The Thunder made 13 three-pointers, compared with ten for the Pelicans.
- Oklahoma City scored 26 second-chance points from 13 offensive rebounds.
- The Thunder won the third quarter 31-23 after leading by two at halftime.
- Oklahoma City made 21 of 23 free throws, producing a 91.3% rate.
Full Box Score: New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans received efficient interior scoring from Zion Williamson and perfect shooting from Yves Missi. However, the Pelicans’ starting perimeter players combined to shoot 7-for-32 from three-point range. Their 21 offensive rebounds and 13 steals created opportunities, but overall shooting remained below 35%.
Pelicans Core Production
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Saddiq Bey | 33:14 | 16 | 13 | 5 |
| Zion Williamson | 33:38 | 21 | 11 | 2 |
| Derik Queen | 26:12 | 9 | 7 | 1 |
| Trey Murphy III | 39:07 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Herbert Jones | 26:32 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| Karlo Matkovic | 10:03 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 18:01 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Jose Alvarado | 20:01 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| Yves Missi | 21:14 | 9 | 6 | 2 |
| Micah Peavy | 11:59 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pelicans Shooting and Impact
| Player | FG | 3PT | FT | Plus-minus |
| Saddiq Bey | 4-16 | 3-6 | 5-5 | +2 |
| Zion Williamson | 8-11 | 0-0 | 5-5 | +4 |
| Derik Queen | 4-11 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 0 |
| Trey Murphy III | 3-20 | 1-11 | 3-5 | -4 |
| Herbert Jones | 3-12 | 1-9 | 2-2 | 0 |
| Karlo Matkovic | 2-4 | 2-2 | 0-0 | -14 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 3-9 | 1-3 | 0-0 | -2 |
| Jose Alvarado | 3-7 | 2-6 | 0-0 | -10 |
| Yves Missi | 4-4 | 0-0 | 1-4 | -9 |
| Micah Peavy | 0-5 | 0-3 | 0-0 | -12 |
Pelicans Defense and Ball Security
| Player | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | Fouls |
| Saddiq Bey | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Zion Williamson | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Derik Queen | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Trey Murphy III | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Herbert Jones | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Karlo Matkovic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Jose Alvarado | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Yves Missi | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Micah Peavy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Full Box Score: Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City had four double-digit scorers despite its reduced rotation. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the scoring, while Holmgren controlled the interior. Isaiah Joe supplied five three-pointers from the bench. Oklahoma City’s 16 turnovers kept New Orleans close before the late defensive stops.
Thunder Core Production
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Aaron Wiggins | 34:07 | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| Jaylin Williams | 26:49 | 4 | 10 | 5 |
| Chet Holmgren | 32:59 | 20 | 14 | 3 |
| Luguentz Dort | 34:07 | 12 | 8 | 3 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 35:50 | 29 | 6 | 4 |
| Isaiah Joe | 24:25 | 17 | 3 | 3 |
| Ousmane Dieng | 19:06 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Brooks Barnhizer | 4:59 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kenrich Williams | 21:21 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Branden Carlson | 6:18 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Thunder Shooting and Impact
| Player | FG | 3PT | FT | Plus-minus |
| Aaron Wiggins | 4-11 | 2-6 | 3-4 | +6 |
| Jaylin Williams | 1-8 | 0-3 | 2-2 | +2 |
| Chet Holmgren | 8-14 | 1-3 | 3-3 | +4 |
| Luguentz Dort | 4-12 | 4-9 | 0-0 | +8 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 8-22 | 0-3 | 13-14 | +14 |
| Isaiah Joe | 6-11 | 5-10 | 0-0 | +9 |
| Ousmane Dieng | 2-5 | 0-2 | 0-0 | -11 |
| Brooks Barnhizer | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | +5 |
| Kenrich Williams | 1-2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | +6 |
| Branden Carlson | 1-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | +2 |
Thunder Defense and Ball Security
| Player | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | Fouls |
| Aaron Wiggins | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Jaylin Williams | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Chet Holmgren | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Luguentz Dort | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Isaiah Joe | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Ousmane Dieng | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Brooks Barnhizer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenrich Williams | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Branden Carlson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Game Leaders and Top Performers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 29 points despite shooting 8-for-22. He made 13 of 14 free throws and recorded a game-best plus-14 rating.
Chet Holmgren finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and five blocks. His third-quarter production helped Oklahoma City create its decisive advantage.
Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 21 points and 11 rebounds. He converted eight of 11 field-goal attempts and all five free throws.
Saddiq Bey collected 16 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. His five offensive rebounds helped New Orleans finish with 21 overall.
Isaiah Joe scored 17 points in 24 minutes from the bench. He made five of Oklahoma City’s 13 three-pointers.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Key detail |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | 29 | 6 | 13-14 FT |
| Zion Williamson | Pelicans | 21 | 11 | 8-11 FG |
| Chet Holmgren | Thunder | 20 | 14 | 5 blocks |
| Isaiah Joe | Thunder | 17 | 3 | 5 three-pointers |
| Saddiq Bey | Pelicans | 16 | 13 | 5 assists |
Starting Lineups
Oklahoma City started Jaylin Williams because several regular rotation players were unavailable. New Orleans kept Williamson and Bey together at forward. Derik Queen started at center, while Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones filled the guard positions.
| Position | New Orleans Pelicans | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Forward | Saddiq Bey | Aaron Wiggins |
| Forward | Zion Williamson | Jaylin Williams |
| Center | Derik Queen | Chet Holmgren |
| Guard | Trey Murphy III | Luguentz Dort |
| Guard | Herbert Jones | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
Injury Report
Oklahoma City entered with seven injury-related absences. Four unavailable players normally held starting or major rotation roles. New Orleans’ main injury absence was Murray, removing another experienced ball-handler from its rotation. Cason Wallace appeared as questionable before receiving an out designation.
New Orleans Pelicans Injuries
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Dejounte Murray | Right Achilles rupture | Out |
Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Alex Caruso | Right adductor strain | Out |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | Right soleus strain | Out |
| Ajay Mitchell | Abdominal strain | Out |
| Thomas Sorber | Right ACL surgical recovery | Out |
| Nikola Topic | Surgical recovery | Out |
| Cason Wallace | Left hip soreness | Questionable, then ruled out |
| Jalen Williams | Right hamstring strain | Out |
Season Series and Head-to-Head
Oklahoma City won every 2025-26 regular-season meeting between the teams. The Thunder scored at least 126 points during the first two games. New Orleans reduced the final margin to nine points during the January meeting.
| Date | Venue | Winner | Final score | Season series |
| November 2, 2025 | Paycom Center | Thunder | OKC 137-106 | OKC 1-0 |
| November 17, 2025 | Smoothie King Center | Thunder | OKC 126-109 | OKC 2-0 |
| January 27, 2026 | Paycom Center | Thunder | OKC 104-95 | OKC 3-0 |
Western Conference Standings
Oklahoma City entered first in the Western Conference and held the NBA’s best record. New Orleans entered 15th after winning only 12 of its first 48 games. The result strengthened those existing positions rather than changing them.
| Team | Entering record | West position | Record after game |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 37-10 | 1st | 38-10 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 12-36 | 15th | 12-37 |
Broadcast and Streaming Information
The game started at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and 7:00 p.m. Central. Local coverage served both team markets. NBA League Pass carried out-of-market streaming, subject to regional blackout restrictions.
| Platform | Type | Market | Access |
| Gulf Coast Sports and WVUE | Local television | Pelicans market | Regional coverage |
| Pelicans+ | Streaming | Pelicans market | Subscription access |
| FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma | Local television | Thunder market | Regional coverage |
| NBA League Pass | Streaming | Out-of-market | Blackout rules applied |
Conclusion
The result stopped Oklahoma City’s two-game losing run and protected its league-leading position. New Orleans’ two-game winning streak ended despite creating more turnovers and offensive rebounds. Oklahoma City decided the game through third-quarter execution, improved shooting, and better second-chance conversion. The Thunder next traveled to Minnesota. The Pelicans returned home to face Memphis.
For more match updates, read: Chicago Sky vs Los Angeles Sparks match player stats
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final Pelicans versus Thunder score?
Oklahoma City defeated New Orleans 104-95 on January 27, 2026, at Paycom Center. The Thunder improved to 38-10 after the win.
Who scored the most points in the game?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led every scorer with 29 points. He also recorded six rebounds, four assists, and a plus-14 rating.
Who led the Pelicans in points?
Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 21 points. He shot 8-for-11, collected 11 rebounds, and made all five free throws.
What quarter decided the game?
Oklahoma City created separation during the third quarter. The Thunder won that period 31-23 after holding a two-point halftime advantage.
How many blocks did Chet Holmgren record?
Holmgren recorded five blocks alongside 20 points and 14 rebounds. He produced 14 points during Oklahoma City’s decisive third quarter.
Which Thunder players missed the game?
Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topic, and Thomas Sorber missed the game through injuries.
Did the Thunder sweep the Pelicans during 2025-26?
Yes. Oklahoma City won all three regular-season meetings, with victories on November 2, November 17, and January 27.
