Pelicans
Pelicans' Bench Outscores Thunder 75-51 in Preseason Comeback Win
The Pelicans trailed by as many as 24 points before erupting for 38 points in the third quarter and outscoring Oklahoma City 26-17 in the fourth to win 116-110 in Tulsa. New Orleans' reserves scored 75 points, forcing 22 Thunder turnovers into 26 points off those giveaways. It is only a preseason game at a neutral site, but the Pelicans' depth answered a lot of questions against a Thunder starting mix that struggled to protect the ball.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 15 d ago01The story of the nightThunder's Fast Start FadesOklahoma City opened with 34 points in the first quarter and led 67-52 at halftime, building a lead that reached 24…
Oklahoma City opened with 34 points in the first quarter and led 67-52 at halftime, building a lead that reached 24 points. New Orleans answered with 38 points in the third quarter alone, cutting the gap to 93-90 by the end of it. The Thunder then managed only 17 points in the fourth while the Pelicans scored 26, completing the turnaround. Oklahoma City's 22 turnovers were the difference-maker, giving New Orleans 26 points off turnovers compared to just 9 for the Thunder.
02Mathurin and Fears Lead a Deep Pelicans BenchBennedict Mathurin scored 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting with 5 assists, and Jeremiah Fears added 12 points on 2-of-3…
Bennedict Mathurin scored 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting with 5 assists, and Jeremiah Fears added 12 points on 2-of-3 three-point shooting, both finishing plus-17. Derik Queen added 10 points and 9 rebounds off the bench, and Jordan Poole chipped in 9. The reserves combined for 75 points against a Thunder bench that managed 51. Starters Trey Murphy III (11 points) and Zion Williamson (11 points) struggled to find rhythm, each finishing minus-20 or worse, but New Orleans won anyway because its bench carried the scoring load.
03Stirtz and Mara Shine, But Turnovers Hurt ThunderBennett Stirtz led all scorers with 15 points and 6 assists but also had 4 turnovers and finished minus-7.
Bennett Stirtz led all scorers with 15 points and 6 assists but also had 4 turnovers and finished minus-7. Aday Mara was efficient with 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Jared McCain added 12 points on 4-of-8 three-point shooting. Oklahoma City shot 52.6% from the field and hit 16 of 33 threes, well ahead of New Orleans' 40.2% and 12-of-33 clip. But 22 turnovers against only 11 for the Pelicans, plus a 14-6 edge for New Orleans in steals, erased that shooting advantage.
04Paint and Free Throws Tell the Rest of the StoryOklahoma City outscored New Orleans in the paint, 48-42, and won the rebounding battle on the offensive glass gap…
Oklahoma City outscored New Orleans in the paint, 48-42, and won the rebounding battle on the offensive glass gap despite New Orleans' 57-52 overall rebounding edge. The Pelicans made up ground at the free-throw line, going 34-of-47 compared to the Thunder's 14-of-21, a 20-point swing from the stripe. New Orleans also had 14 steals to Oklahoma City's 6, turning defense into the extra possessions that fueled the comeback. Assists favored the Thunder, 29-24, but ball security proved more costly than ball movement.
05What It MeansBoth teams are 0-0 and this was labeled a preseason game, so the result carries no standings weight.
Both teams are 0-0 and this was labeled a preseason game, so the result carries no standings weight. For New Orleans, the depth scoring from Mathurin, Fears, Queen and Poole is an encouraging sign with starters like Murphy and Williamson still finding their footing. For Oklahoma City, the 22 turnovers and the fourth-quarter collapse after a 24-point lead are the clear items to clean up before the games start counting, even with encouraging shooting splits from Stirtz, Mara and McCain.
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