OKC Thunder routed by the New Orleans Pelicans – 3 takeaways

OKC Thunder. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
OKC Thunder. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
1 of 4
OKC Thunder
OKC Thunder. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

The OKC Thunder took on the New Orleans Pelicans in their worst game of the season, losing 113-80 in the return of Steven Adams.

The OKC Thunder had their worst game of the season against the New Orleans Pelicans, going down 113-80 which is a margin of 33 points. The Pelicans played really good defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder did not have enough quality players with experience to pick up the slack.

Early on Zion Williamson and ex-OKC Thunder player Steven Adams were everywhere on the offensive glass. The big Kiwi was also instrumental in getting his teammates open with those big screens we used to love when he was in an OKC Thunder uniform.

The Pelicans manhandled the Thunder in the paint before gaining control on offense everywhere. The Thunder had their chances to come back in the third period when Williamson sat with fouls with less than five minutes gone in the period. The Pelicans also lost Brandon Ingram to a flagrant foul, penalty two when he collected Isaiah Roby in the head in transition.

There were some bright spots for the OKC Thunder.

https://twitter.com/okcthunder/status/1344822241163436032?s=20

It was not all doom and gloom for the Thunder. They had several bright spots including the play of Al Horford who finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists. The other highlight from the starting lineup was the defense Darius Bazley played all night on Williamson.

Beyond that, Theo Maeldon showed that he is getting the pace of the NBA game, involving himself in defensive rebounding duties. Aleksej Pokusevski hit his first NBA 3-point shot, as did Josh Hall, one of the OKC Thunder’s two-way players.