Discover how OKC can conquer the Pelicans by dominating the point-of-attack, controlling the glass, and forcing them into contested threes.
The Oklahoma City Thunder return home looking to steady themselves after an unfamiliar stumble. For the first time since December 2023, the Thunder have dropped two straight games at Paycom Center, a building that has become one of the toughest places to play in the league.
With the New Orleans Pelicans coming to town, Oklahoma City will be shorthanded, without Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell, and potentially Cason Wallace, but this is still a matchup that favors the Thunder if they focus on the right things.
Here are the three keys to the game for the Thunder as they look to get back on track at home.
1. Win the Point-of-Attack Battle
This is where the Thunder can tilt the game early. On both ends of the floor but particularly offensively.
The Pelicans have struggled all season containing dribble penetration, and that weakness becomes even more pronounced when they’re forced to defend multiple attackers. Even without Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City has enough ball handling and downhill pressure to stress New Orleans’ defense.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the obvious headliner here. His ability to get two feet in the paint forces help, collapses defenses, and creates open looks for everyone else. With fewer creators available, the Thunder will need to simplify things like beat your man off the bounce, make the Pelicans rotate, and punish those rotations.
If the Thunder consistently win the first matchup on the perimeter, it minimizes the impact of missing depth and turns this into a game dictated by skill rather than size.
2. Control the Defensive Glass - Or At Least Don’t Get Destroyed
This is the area where the Pelicans can flip momentum if the Thunder aren’t locked in.
New Orleans isn’t an elite offensive team, but they can generate extra possessions through physicality and second chance points, especially with Zion Williamson crashing the paint. For a Thunder team missing Isaiah Hartenstein, defensive rebounding becomes a collective responsibility.
Everyone has to rebound. Guards can’t leak out early. Wings have to crack back and put bodies on bigger players. Finishing defensive possessions is critical, because giving the Pelicans multiple shots in a trip allows them to hang around even when their offense stalls.
If Oklahoma City limits second chances, the Pelicans are forced to score efficiently in the half court which is something they’ve struggled to do consistently.
3. Make the Pelicans Beat You From Three (Yes, That Sounds Weird)
In today’s NBA, saying “let them shoot threes” sounds backwards. But context matters.
The Pelicans are not a high volume, high efficiency three point team, and they’re far more dangerous when they’re living in the paint. Oklahoma City’s defensive priority should be clear: load up on Williamson, show bodies on drives, and protect the rim first.
That doesn’t mean ignoring shooters, but it does mean living with contested jumpers rather than allowing straight line drives and dunks. If New Orleans wins this game by knocking down tough threes all night, you tip your cap. Over 48 minutes, that’s not a bet the Thunder should lose often.
For a short handed Thunder team, keeping the game structured and forcing the Pelicans into jump shooting variance is a smart way to control the flow.
This game doesn’t require anything fancy. It requires discipline. If the Thunder get downhill, rebound as a unit, and wall off the paint defensively, they’re well positioned to snap the home losing streak and reestablish Paycom Center as their house, even with key pieces missing.