Game ID: 22401196
Oklahoma City Thunder @ New Orleans Pelicans
Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 19 30 23 28 100OKC 38 26 26 25 115
NOP vs OKC ScoutingNOP vs OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NOP availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restNEW Reeves 15 to 25 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Kelley missed 2 since 4/04, out tonight
NEW Reeves 15 to 28 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Kelley missed 3 since 4/04, returns tonight: 23 min (118% of 20)
NEW Reeves 15 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/11 · back-to-backBACK Kelley back 4/10 after 3, 23 min since (118% of 20)
NEW Reeves 15 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Cain 14 to 23 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT Missi missed 2 since 4/10, out tonight
OUT Brown missed 2 since 4/10, out tonight
BACK Kelley back 4/10 after 3, 22 min since (111% of 20)
NEW Brooks Jr. 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Robinson-Earl 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Reeves 15 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Cain 14 to 25 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Jay. Williams missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 43 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jal. Williams back 3/27 after 7, 30 min since (91% of 33)
BACK Wiggins back 4/04 after 5, 19 min since (92% of 21)
OKC availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Jay. Williams missed 3 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 44 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 4/04 after 5, 20 min since (96% of 21)
OKC availability going into 4/09 · back-to-backOUT Jay. Williams missed 4 since 4/02, returns tonight: 24 min (169% of 14)
OUT Mitchell missed 45 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 4/04 after 5, 18 min since (84% of 21)
OKC availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 46 since 1/05, returns tonight: 18 min (126% of 14)
BACK Wiggins back 4/04 after 5, 21 min since (103% of 21)
BACK Jay. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 24 min since (169% of 14)
OKC availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 2 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Dort missed 2 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Hartenstein missed 2 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Wallace missed 2 since 4/09, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 4/04 after 5, 24 min since (115% of 21)
BACK Jay. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 25 min since (172% of 14)
BACK Mitchell back 4/11 after 46, 18 min since (126% of 14)
OKC availability going into 4/20 · 6 days' restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 3 since 4/09, returns tonight: 23 min (66% of 35)
OUT Jal. Williams missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 26 min (78% of 33)
OUT Dort missed 3 since 4/09, returns tonight: 22 min (75% of 29)
OUT Holmgren missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 21 min (74% of 28)
OUT Hartenstein missed 3 since 4/09, returns tonight: 21 min (80% of 26)
OUT Wallace missed 3 since 4/09, returns tonight: 13 min (48% of 26)
OUT Caruso missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 12 min (57% of 21)
BACK Jay. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 17 min since (120% of 14)
BACK Mitchell back 4/11 after 46, 18 min since (126% of 14)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Joe 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 24 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/22 · 1 day's restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/20 after 3, 23 min since (66% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/20 after 2, 26 min since (78% of 33)
BACK Dort back 4/20 after 3, 22 min since (75% of 29)
BACK Holmgren back 4/20 after 2, 21 min since (74% of 28)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/20 after 3, 21 min since (80% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/20 after 3, 13 min since (48% of 26)
BACK Caruso back 4/20 after 2, 12 min since (57% of 21)
BACK Jay. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 18 min since (122% of 14)
BACK Mitchell back 4/11 after 46, 17 min since (118% of 14)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Joe 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 24 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/24 · 1 day's restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/20 after 3, 31 min since (88% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/20 after 2, 31 min since (93% of 33)
BACK Dort back 4/20 after 3, 27 min since (93% of 29)
BACK Holmgren back 4/20 after 2, 27 min since (96% of 28)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/20 after 3, 24 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/20 after 3, 19 min since (71% of 26)
BACK Caruso back 4/20 after 2, 17 min since (82% of 21)
BACK Jay. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 15 min since (102% of 14)
BACK Mitchell back 4/11 after 46, 17 min since (118% of 14)
NEW Wiggins 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Joe 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 15 to 28 min over the last 4
OKC availability going into 4/26 · 1 day's restOUT K. Williams missed 2 since 4/22, returns tonight: 2 min (10% of 15)
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/20 after 3, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/20 after 2, 33 min since (99% of 33)
BACK Dort back 4/20 after 3, 30 min since (103% of 29)
BACK Holmgren back 4/20 after 2, 29 min since (102% of 28)
BACK Hartenstein back 4/20 after 3, 23 min since (87% of 26)
BACK Wallace back 4/20 after 3, 20 min since (77% of 26)
BACK Caruso back 4/20 after 2, 19 min since (92% of 21)
BACK Mitchell back 4/11 after 46, 13 min since (92% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 129, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Alvarado at 19 and Reeves at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Missi (2 straight), Brown (2 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 27 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (2 straight), Dort (2 straight), Hartenstein (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 15 times a game to OKC's 10 and the defense, OKC allowing 119 a night to New Orleans's 129. Call it OKC 121, New Orleans 113.
4/06 vs MIL 107-111 — NOP notes
NOP lost 107-111. NOP shot 45% (43 of 95) to MIL's 47%, 12 of 33 from three, and got to the line 14 times to MIL's 22. Reeves led with 23 (8 of 18, 5 of 9 from three); Missi added 18, Quinones 17. Q1 was theirs, 31-28, but the other 3 periods went 83-76 against them. Matković's -11 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/08 @ BKN 114-119 — NOP notes
NOP lost 114-119. NOP shot 48% (39 of 82) to BKN's 49%, 12 of 33 from three, and went to the line 31 times to BKN's 24 — 24 points from the stripe to their 20. Reeves led with 17 (5 of 14, 4 of 10 from three); Matković added 17, Alvarado 16. Q4 was theirs, 35-22, the deficit cut from 18 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 97-79 against them. Alvarado's -25 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/10 @ MIL 111-136 — NOP notes
NOP lost 111-136. NOP shot 43% (41 of 96) to MIL's 54%, 15 of 47 from three, and got to the line 19 times to MIL's 30. NOP turned it over 16 times to MIL's 11, and MIL turned those into 13 steals. The glass went 53-43 for them. Quinones led with 21 (8 of 22, 2 of 11 from three); Brooks Jr. added 20, Cain 20. Q1 was theirs, 26-21, but the other 3 periods went 115-85 against them. Brooks Jr.'s -22 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/11 vs MIA 104-153 — NOP notes
NOP lost 104-153. NOP shot 40% (38 of 95) to MIA's 56%, 14 of 37 from three. The glass went 42-60 against them. Cain led with 25 (8 of 16, 4 of 7 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Reeves added 19, Brooks Jr. 14. Q2 was theirs, 30-36, but the other 3 periods went 117-74 against them. Robinson-Earl's -58 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/13 vs OKC 100-115 — NOP notes
NOP lost 100-115. NOP shot 38% (35 of 91) to OKC's 42%, 7 of 38 from three. Reeves led with 20 (8 of 14, 0 of 4 from three); Cain added 18, Quinones 17. Q2 was theirs, 30-26, the deficit cut from 19 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 89-70 against them. Reeves's -18 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/06 vs LAL 99-126 — OKC notes
OKC lost 99-126. OKC shot 43% (39 of 90) to LAL's 55%, 12 of 37 from three. OKC turned it over 7 times to LAL's 15. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 26 (12 of 23, 2 of 5 from three); Jal. Williams added 16, Holmgren 10. Q4 was theirs, 22-23, but the other 3 periods went 103-77 against them. Wallace's -23 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/08 vs LAL 136-120 — OKC notes
OKC won 136-120. OKC shot 50% (52 of 104) to LAL's 46%, 18 of 37 from three, and got to the line 20 times to LAL's 37. OKC turned it over 6 times to LAL's 18. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 42 (14 of 26, 5 of 9 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); J. Williams added 26, Dort 17. The hinge was Q4, 39-22: OKC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 16, and the lead reached 20. J. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
4/09 @ PHX 125-112 — OKC notes
OKC won 125-112. OKC shot 52% (45 of 86) to PHX's 48%, 12 of 30 from three, and went to the line 27 times to PHX's 19 — 23 points from the stripe to their 13. Jal. Williams led with 33 (13 of 23, 2 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Holmgren added 22, Caruso 19. The hinge was Q3, 43-26: OKC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 20. OKC trailed 62-67 at the half and won the second half 63-45. Caruso was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
4/11 @ UTA 145-111 — OKC notes
OKC won 145-111. OKC shot 56% (56 of 100) to UTA's 38%, 24 of 53 from three, and got to the line 13 times to UTA's 20. OKC turned it over 10 times to UTA's 16. The glass went 47-57 against them. Wiggins led with 35 (14 of 24, 4 of 10 from three); Joe added 32, K. Williams 18. The hinge was Q4, 38-25: a lead of 21 became 34, and the lead reached 38. Joe was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
4/13 @ NOP 115-100 — OKC notes
OKC won 115-100. OKC shot 42% (41 of 98) to NOP's 38%, 9 of 47 from three. Wiggins led with 28 (8 of 18, 2 of 6 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Carlson added 26, K. Williams 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-19: from level to 19 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Wiggins was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
4/20 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jal. Williams at 25 and Wiggins at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (3 straight), Jal. Williams (2 straight), Dort (3 straight). 6 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Morant at 28 and Bane at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 6 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-1 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 13 times a game to OKC's 9. Call it OKC 119, Memphis 115, Memphis keeping it close.
4/22 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jal. Williams at 26 and Wiggins at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Morant at 26 and Bane at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 105 a night to Memphis's 117 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 15 times a game to OKC's 10. Call it OKC 123, Memphis 110, OKC by 13.
4/24 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Morant at 24 and Bane at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jackson (2 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 100, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jal. Williams at 26 and Wiggins at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 100 a night to Memphis's 121 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-5 a night and Memphis minus-6. Call it OKC 120, Memphis 111.
4/26 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 17 free throws a game; Morant at 19 and Jackson Jr. at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Jackson (3 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 100, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 24 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 100 a night to Memphis's 115 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-5 a night and Memphis minus-4. Call it OKC 118, Memphis 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAD A. Ducas
AF A. Flagler
AM A. Mitchell
AW A. Wiggins
BC B. Carlson
DJ D. Jones
IJ I. Joe
JW J. Williams
KW K. Williams
NOPAR A. Reeves
EP E. Payton
JA J. Alvarado
JC J. Cain
JR J. Robinson-Earl
KB K. Brooks Jr.
KK K. Kelley
LQ L. Quinones
OKC/NOP the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Wiggins and Carlson lift Thunder past Pelicans 115-100 in regular-season finale
NEW ORLEANS -- - Rookie center Branden Carlson scored a season-high 26 points to go with 10 rebounds and three blocked three shots, and the Oklahoma City Thunder wrapped up the best regular season in franchise history with a 115-100 victory over the injury-depleted New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
Aaron Wiggins scored a game-high 28 points and Kenrich Williams had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder (68-14), who never trailed and led by as many as 23 points despite resting all of their usual starters.
Dillon Jones added 13 points and 10 rebounds in just his third start this season and Isaiah Joe scored 17 for Oklahoma City, which won its last five regular-season games and 16 of its last 17.
Rookie Antonio Reeves scored 20 points, Jamal Cain added 18 and Lester Quinones 17 for the Pelicans, who had just eight available players as they closed out the season on a seven-game skid.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl had 10 points and 16 rebounds, and his 3-pointer briefly pulled the Pelicans as close as six at 71-65 before the Thunder pulled away again.
Takeaways Thunder: Even with all of its usual starters held out for rest, Oklahoma City was able to build a 20-point lead in the first quarter.
Pelicans: New Orleans' final record of 21-61 is the second worst in franchise history and worst since the 2004-05 team went 18-64.
Key moment Kenrich Williams, Carlson and Jones each hit 3s during a 9-0 run that gave the Thunder an 84-67 lead, and Oklahoma City led comfortably from then on.
Key stat The Thunder outrebounded the Pelicans 54-47 and turned 17 offensive rebounds into 21 second-chance points.
Up next After posting the best record in the NBA this season, Oklahoma City opens the first round of the playoffs at home against the team that wins the No. 8 seed in this week's Western Conference play-in tournament. The Pelicans begin what could be an offseason of upheaval after their worst season since team owner Gayle Benson's late husband, Tom, bought the club in 2012. ------