The Oklahoma City Thunder, one of three undefeated teams remaining in the NBA, try to match their start from last season’s run to the NBA title when they take on the winless New Orleans Pelicans at home Sunday.
The Thunder have started hot despite missing some key pieces.
Chet Holmgren has missed the last two games with lower back soreness, while All-Star Jalen Williams has yet to play this season after offseason wrist surgery.
But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to play at an extremely high level – he comes into Sunday’s game averaging 34.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game – and Oklahoma City’s role players continue to excel.
In Thursday’s win over Washington, the Thunder got some needed production from Isaiah Joe, who missed the first five games due to injury. Joe had 20 points, including hitting five 3-pointers, in the 127-108 victory.
Oklahoma City has tried not to rush players back from injury during the regular season, and Joe benefited from that approach.
“He’s quietly accumulated a lot of experience here now,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Some of that stuff’s like riding a bike, and some of that stuff you have to keep sharp. He worked hard in his return to play. We’re conservative reintroducing people that are coming off injury. He was definitely ready, came in with great rhythm.”
Joe has shot better than 40% from beyond the arc in each of his last three seasons since joining the Thunder.
Last season, he was just 2-of-18 on 3-pointers in three games against the Pelicans, though, his worst percentage against any team.
Oklahoma City entered play on Saturday last in the league in 3-point percentage at 29.6%.
But the Thunder lead the league in defensive rating at 104.1. New Orleans is near the bottom of the league in offensive rating, scoring 107.1 points per 100 possessions.
While New Orleans has struggled overall, it is holding opponents to just 33.2% from beyond the arc, fifth in the league in the category.
The Pelicans are coming off a 126-124 loss to the Clippers on Kawhi Leonard’s tiebreaking shot at the buzzer after New Orleans fought back from a 17-point deficit.
“(This team) is a group that’s learning each other, coming together, but they care,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “… We’re going to continue to get better.”
Among the reasons for Green’s optimism is rookie Jeremiah Fears, who spent his lone season in college at Oklahoma.
The No. 7 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft is coming off a 13-point, eight-rebound, four-steal, no-turnover performance against the Clippers.
The proximity gave Daigneault some opportunity to see Fears.
“I haven’t watched him a crazy amount but just the aggressiveness – he’s quick twitch, he’s athletic, obviously, can score and touch the paint, and has a certain boldness to him that’s impressive for a young player,” Daigneault said. “There’s a reason why they took him when they did. He’ll only get better with more experience.”
The Thunder swept four meetings between the teams last season and Oklahoma City has won 10 consecutive meetings, including a first-round playoff sweep in 2024.
