Thunder vs Pelicans: Pregame Primer
Pelicans (13-13, 5-9 road) vs. Thunder (13-14, 7-5 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 6:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 103.7 (23rd), Pelicans – 110.1 (5th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.1 (5th), Pelicans – 110.2 (26th)
The Thunder has now won eight of their last ten games and a win tonight over the New Orleans Pelicans would put them back in the West’s Top 8. The Thunder will once again be without Kevin Durant, who sprained his right ankle in the loss against Golden State on Thursday.
It’s uncertain when Durant will return, but Scott Brooks said of KD, “definitely feeling better today than yesterday”. Perry Jones will make his second straight start tonight in his place.
Kendrick Perkins will be a gametime decision after missing Friday’s game with a knee contusion. Sounds like he’ll play though.
Pelicans took down the Thunder on Dec. 2 behind monster efforts from Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans. Let’s see what’s in store for tonight.
The Matchup
Anthony Davis lit the Thunder to the tune of 25pts, 10rebs, 4asts, 6stls, 4blks, while Tyreke Evans went for 30 and was untouchable down the stretch. Serge, coming off a very nice game in LA, needs to be more affective on Davis tonight after getting punked by him a couple weeks ago. The Pels are on the second night of a back-t0-back after losing to Portland at home last night. The energy and effort department — essentials to good defense — should be controlled by the Thunder at the Peake.
Perry Jones… yea that guy needs to play better tonight. He’ll be chasing around Luke Babbitt to start tonight’s game, which means it’s a good night for Jones to return to form. Who knows, he may even see some time guarding AD when OKC goes small. He’s due for a good one.
Andre Roberson is making quite a name for himself on the defensive end after holding Kobe Bryant to eight points on 3-15 shooting on Friday. If you had Roberson outscoring Kobe in that game, please step forward and collect all the monies.
Roberson will draw Tyreke Evans tonight after he had another career night against the Thunder. Oklahoma City played Evans so tight on the perimeter you would’ve thought he had a shot like Steph Curry, and it cost them over and over as Tyreke got layup after layup. Roberson needs to make him a jump-shooter tonight and take away driving lanes.
Fun fact: Russell Westbrook is averaging 27-7-6 in he’s playing just 30 minutes a night. Sheesh.
Friday’s COTN: “my favourite part is where Robes airballed his first FT, barely hit the rim for the 2nd, and then came back and hit a 3 pointer!” – @meh
the marvel of marvels.
Tip at 6:00 CT. Go 8-Seed.
