The New Orleans Pelicans walked out of Paycom Center with a 116-110 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, closing out an early-October matchup with the kind of late-game poise that has been a talking point around this roster all offseason. Trailing by as many as nine in the third quarter, New Orleans flipped the game with a 14-2 run, then protected the lead down the stretch behind efficient half-court execution and a pair of timely defensive stops in the final two minutes.

The Pelicans improved their preseason form with the result, while Oklahoma City was left with a mixed night: plenty of encouraging shot creation from its stars, but a familiar problem at the other end when the game tightened up.

Match Overview

• Final score: New Orleans Pelicans 116, Oklahoma City Thunder 110
• Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
• Date: October 7, 2026
• Result type: Road win for New Orleans

Oklahoma City controlled the opening quarter, pushing the tempo off defensive rebounds and getting downhill against a Pelicans defense that was still finding its rotations. The Thunder led by six after the first and kept the margin in that range through halftime, leaning on their usual formula: drive, kick, and punish late closeouts from the arc.

New Orleans stayed within striking distance by winning the paint. Zion Williamson attacked the rim early and often, drawing help defenders and opening up the corners for Trey Murphy III and the Pelicans' shooting rotation. That inside-out balance is exactly what made the second half swing the way it did.

Key Moments

The turning point arrived midway through the third quarter. After Oklahoma City briefly stretched its lead, New Orleans answered with a 14-2 burst built entirely on defensive stops and transition points. A blocked shot at the rim turned into a corner three at the other end, and suddenly the Pelicans had their first lead since the opening minutes.

Oklahoma City responded with a run of its own to open the fourth, but New Orleans never surrendered the momentum for long. With under three minutes remaining and the game tied, the Pelicans executed two straight possessions out of a high pick-and-roll, generating a lob at the rim and a kick-out three that pushed the lead to five.

The decisive sequence came in the final minute: a contested mid-range miss at one end, a secure rebound, and two made free throws to seal a six-point cushion. Oklahoma City had one last look from beyond the arc, but the shot rimmed out, and New Orleans ran the clock down to finish the job.

How New Orleans Won It

Three things separated the Pelicans in this one:

• Paint production. New Orleans consistently generated high-percentage attempts near the rim, forcing Oklahoma City into help rotations that left shooters open on the perimeter.
• Rebounding in traffic. The Pelicans won the battle on the defensive glass in the second half, limiting second-chance opportunities during Oklahoma City's best stretches.
• Late-game execution. In a game that stayed within two possessions for most of the fourth, New Orleans got cleaner shots than Oklahoma City did over the final five minutes.

Defensively, Herb Jones set the tone on the perimeter, navigating screens and disrupting the Thunder's preferred dribble-handoff actions. Yves Missi's length at the rim also mattered, altering several attempts that don't show up in the box score but changed Oklahoma City's shot selection.

Standout Performers

For New Orleans, Zion Williamson was the engine, finishing through contact and drawing enough attention to bend the Thunder defense. Trey Murphy III provided the spacing that made Williamson's drives viable, while Dejounte Murray steadied the offense in the fourth quarter with composed pick-and-roll reads and timely shot creation.

Oklahoma City's best moments came from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was typically efficient operating in the mid-range and getting to the free-throw line. Chet Holmgren impacted the game on both ends with blocks and rebounds, and Jalen Williams gave the Thunder a second reliable creator when the primary action was taken away. Oklahoma City's bench also produced a productive stretch in the second quarter that briefly pushed the lead to its largest margin of the night.

What It Means

Preseason results rarely define a season, but the patterns inside them do. For Oklahoma City, the takeaway is a familiar one: when the half-court offense stalls and opponents load up on the strong side, the Thunder need a secondary creator to generate clean looks. That's a solvable problem, and the coaching staff has the personnel to solve it.

For New Orleans, the win reinforces the i