As much as preseason basketball is about rhythm and a slight warm up for regular season, it’s also about staying healthy. In a game that had many twists and turns, both teams’ starters collectively played less than in their first outings. Outside of OKC’s Paul George and NOLA’s Jrue Holiday no starter played over 20 minutes. In a game driven by star power OKC stood strong, never looking uncomfortable and consistently ready to strike.
The Pelicans had no answer for Paul George (25 points,12 in the game deciding third quarter, on 7-14 shooting). New Orleans as a whole struggled for stretches with mental mistakes, and stale offensive possessions.