Thunder (27-19), Pelicans (18-28)
Two nights earlier, New Orleans registered a spectacular victory over defending NBA champion Cleveland, despite not having Anthony Davis in uniform. On Wednesday, the four-time All-Star played but had to leave the game in the first half with the same injury that kept him out of Monday’s contest, a right quad contusion. This time, the Pelicans couldn’t overcome that significant absence.
Oklahoma City built a 22-point lead in the third quarter and held off a few surges by New Orleans from there, to win in the Crescent City for the second time in roughly a month.