Shai Gilgeous Alexander Lifts Thunder Past Pelicans as Oklahoma City Avoids Three Game Skid

Oklahoma City — Shai Gilgeous Alexander scored 29 points in a breaking update Tuesday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder leaned on depth and defense to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 104 to 95, stabilizing their latest timeline and avoiding their first three game losing streak of the season.

Playing without four regular rotation players, Oklahoma City entered the night facing rare adversity at home. The Thunder responded by controlling the second half, reinforcing why they continue to own the NBA’s best record at 38 and 10 and remain a benchmark in the Western Conference outlook.

Gilgeous Alexander shot 8 of 22 from the field but repeatedly pressured the rim, finishing 13 of 14 from the free throw line. The performance extended his streak of scoring at least 20 points to 118 consecutive games, the second longest such run in league history and a reminder of his consistency as a Most Valuable Player contender. What this means for Oklahoma City is continued offensive stability even on nights when perimeter shots are not falling.

Chet Holmgren delivered one of the most complete performances of the season with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Holmgren’s rim protection anchored a Thunder defense that held New Orleans to 40.7 percent shooting and limited second chance opportunities during key stretches. Isaiah Joe added 17 points, providing crucial spacing as Oklahoma City navigated injuries to Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Cason Wallace, and Alex Caruso.

New Orleans was led by Zion Williamson, who posted 21 points on 8 of 11 shooting and collected 11 rebounds. Saddiq Bey recorded 16 points and 13 rebounds as the Pelicans saw a two game winning streak end. Despite efficient interior scoring, New Orleans struggled to sustain momentum during long stretches of the second half, particularly after Oklahoma City tightened its defensive rotations.

The game’s tone was set early when both teams opened cold, with the Thunder missing their first 8 shots and the Pelicans starting 1 of 9. Oklahoma City found rhythm late in the second quarter when Lu Dort drilled a 3 pointer with 10.9 seconds remaining to give the Thunder a 48 to 46 halftime lead.

The Thunder created separation in the third quarter. Holmgren knocked down a 3 pointer with 3 minutes and 38 seconds left to push the lead to 74 to 64, and another Dort 3 later extended the margin to 88 to 73. New Orleans mounted a brief comeback with a 14 to 2 run capped by a long Jeremiah Fears bank shot, trimming the deficit to 92 to 87. Dort answered again with his fourth 3 pointer to reestablish control, sealing the outcome with 3 minutes and 26 seconds remaining.

Tensions rose late as multiple on court altercations resulted in technical fouls, including incidents involving Saddiq Bey, Jaylin Williams, Jeremiah Fears, and Dort. No ejections were issued, and the game concluded without further escalation.

From a season impact perspective, the win underscores Oklahoma City’s ability to absorb injuries while maintaining elite defensive standards. League wide, few contenders have demonstrated comparable depth and discipline under similar circumstances.

Next steps see the Pelicans hosting Memphis on Friday as they look to regain traction in a crowded Western Conference race. The Thunder travel to Minnesota on Thursday, where the latest timeline will test Oklahoma City against another playoff level opponent as they continue shaping their postseason outlook.