Thunder upset Pelicans as OKC matches best start since 2011-12

On November 14, 2024By Littum

It was already enough that the Thunder’s entire center rotation has been sidelined for the foreseeable future.

But its back-up, crushing big man in Alex Caruso too? Brutal.

And yet, against the injury-plagued Pelicans, who have had similarly tough fortunes, it didn’t matter. OKC still ran their pockets in a 106-88 victory to improve to 10-2, matching its best start since the 2011-12 season.

Granted, damage-filled is an understatement. A print version of New Orleans’ roster comes with a free cast. Most of its competent guards — including CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray — watched Wednesday night’s game in street clothes.

But the Thunder has been tasked with matching the shape of its No. 1 defense. 1, disruptive and annoying without its two best defenders: center Chet Holmgren and Caruso, who missed Wednesday with hip soreness.

“It just makes us play harder because we know what we’re missing,” forward Jalen Williams said of Caruso’s absence.

The Thunder sends a get-good card to its rim protection. But its disruption, its activity, its outright theft in the lanes? It never worked.

OKC forced 23 turnovers, perhaps the only digestible antidote to coming back with 27. It outscored the Pelicans 34-2 in fastbreak points. New Orleans made just one of its five opportunities. The Thunder almost ran suicide more than it ran half court offense.

Brandon Boston Jr. and Brandon Ingram was tasked with running New Orleans’ offense at a certain level. Each of them was beaten and stolen from until their games were unrecognizable.

Ingram had eight turnovers and went 7 for 18 from the field. Boston had six turnovers, 3 for 10. Sophomore guard Cason Wallace, who had five steals, seemingly took away a little of their talent with every touch.

“Obviously we’re playing smaller right now and we want to be a team that can offset our vulnerabilities with our strengths,” coach Mark Daigneault said. “I think sometimes from a coaching point of view you’re tempted to focus on all the things that go wrong. But sometimes the solution is to make your best things better.”

Players who barely look like centers rotated near the rim. The polluted passing lanes. An offensive rebound from New Orleans required a three-man escort, with at least one of OKC’s defenders getting away with the ball more often than not.

The Thunder defense was so hectic that its new center Jalen Williams even did his best Holmgren impression midway through the third quarter: he hit back-to-back shots and was fouled on the other end, a blur of a sequence on a night where he had 31 points, six rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

The gutted unit handled that side of the ball so well — perhaps as well as the lineup to start the season — that it begged the question of how high the Thunder can float during this not-so-great stretch.

Disruption (and turnover) remains the mark, even if small and bold are the most predictable things OKC can be right now. Even with the team’s defensive anchor out. And his backup. And the guy behind him. And the…

Well, you get it.

Even after winning a bounce ball, Williams won’t reveal his pseudo-center secrets.

He vowed Monday to reveal the advice that actual center Jaylin Williams gave him should he win. When the time came, Aaron Wiggins sat down next to him and gave him a push.

“The higher ups told me not to say that,” Williams joked. “But — it’s pretty obvious — it’s like a timing thing. … I don’t know. My arms are long. That’s really all it was.”

You just have to know that Williams, the jump center for the second night in a row and spending more time at the five than ever before, was equipped. With a spider-like wingspan. With the palpable fire of a great man. With the tricks of the trade.

He dashed up the floor, caught lobs, stepped into 3s — so much movement that he had almost distracted the Pelicans from the position he was playing.

“That guy was everywhere tonight,” Daigneault said. “Literally everywhere.”

He had had peculiar stretches this season. Where Williams’ old spots seemed hidden from his sight, where his levers might not be able to reach there.

But Williams, the center, was sufficient. And Williams, the off-ball player the Thunder need these days, was a star.

He made 10 of his 18 shots, as well as four of his seven 3-point attempts.

His consecutive blocks were amazing. In part because he had reached his 7-foot-2 wingspan beyond the rim, then managed to get back into the game for more. But mostly because in that moment he saw a part of what Torden can only hope for in the next few weeks.

The do-it-all, send-it-back, scream-in-your-face wing that must carry unprecedented weight for his young career. He is, after all, the starting center in a lineup of guards and wings — none reportedly taller than 6-foot-6.

“I’m probably taller than (Williams),” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said, “but I know he probably doesn’t like it, so (Williams) can be the tallest.”

On Wednesday, there was no doubt. Williams stood highest.

Injury report – just not from Mark Daigneault

Mark Daigneault does not provide injury update statuses. Or money, obviously.

When asked for an update on Caruso, Daigneault nipped in the bud. He will refer to the team’s published updates, which run with injury reports released to the NBA.

“I would really love to sit up here and give you all the details that I have, but the league has made it very clear that you will be punished for talking about injuries,” Daigneault said. “… I would very much like to give you the information. I am not rebelling against freedom of the press. But our money is valuable to us.”

Daigneault didn’t have an update on Isaiah Hartenstein, but for what it’s worth, Hartenstein was seen on Wednesday without the glove/brace he had been wearing.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 29 points on 12-for-25 shooting, five rebounds and five assists
Ajay Mitchell: 6 points, two rebounds, three assists and tied for a team-high plus-18.

Date: Wednesday 13 Nov
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City

What channel is OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans on today?

TV: FanDuel Sports Network, ESPN
How to watch online: Fubo (Free Trial)
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM

Thunder vs Pelicans odds

Odds lent by via BetMGM from and including Wednesday 13 November

Odds: Thunder before 14.5

Above/below: 223.5

Money line: OKC -1200 | New Orleans +725

OKC Thunder roster

Alex Caruso, PG
Ousmane Dieng, SF
Luguentz Dort, SG
Alex Ducas, SG *
Adam Flagler, PG
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, SG
Isaiah Hartenstein, C
Chet Holmgren, PF
Isaiah Joe, SG
Dillon Jones, SF
Ajay Mitchell, SG *
Alex Reese, PF
Nikola Topić, PG
Cason Wallace, SG
Aaron Wiggins, SG
Jalen Williams, SG
Jaylin Williams, PF
Kenrich Williams, PF

*-two-way contract

OKC Thunder schedule

Wednesday 13 November: vs. New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network and ESPN)

Friday, November 15 (NBA Cup Game): vs. Phoenix at 7 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network)

Sunday 17 November: vs. Dallas at 6 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network)

Tuesday, November 19 (NBA Cup game): in San Antonio at 20.30 (TNT)

Wednesday 20 November: vs. Portland at 7 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network)

Thunder vs Pelicans highlights

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