Oklahoma City plays New Orleans on 4-game win streak
Oklahoma City Thunder (31-13, first in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (26-18, sixth in the Western Conference)
New Orleans; Friday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City will try to keep its four-game win streak intact when the Thunder take on New Orleans.
The Pelicans are 18-16 in conference matchups. New Orleans ranks fourth in the Western Conference in team defense, giving up just 112.5 points while holding opponents to 46.1% shooting.
The Thunder are 19-10 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City is at the bottom of the Western Conference recording just 41.1 rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 7.3.
The Pelicans average 117.5 points per game, 3.9 more points than the 113.6 the Thunder give up. The Thunder average 13.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 fewer makes per game than the Pelicans give up.
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Pelicans defeated the Thunder 110-106 in their last meeting on Nov. 1. CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with 29 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 20 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Ingram is averaging 21.7 points and 5.6 assists for the Pelicans. McCollum is averaging 18.3 points over the last 10 games for New Orleans.
Holmgren is averaging 17.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks for the Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 30.0 points over the last 10 games for Oklahoma City.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 123.1 points, 44.7 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.9 points per game.
Thunder: 8-2, averaging 122.4 points, 42.7 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 8.6 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 51.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.4 points.
INJURIES: Pelicans: Matt Ryan: out (calf).
Thunder: Olivier Sarr: out (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.