The winless New Orleans Pelicans (0-5) face the undefeated Oklahoma City Thunder (6-0) this afternoon at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
New Orleans is coming off a heartbreaking 126-124 loss to the LA Clippers, where Zion Williamson poured in 29 points and Jordan Poole added 30. The Pelicans showed fight, erasing a 17-point deficit to tie the game with under six minutes left.
Williamson scored nine points in the final two and a half minutes to bring the Pelicans even again at 124 with 9.6 seconds remaining — but Kawhi Leonard’s 20-foot jumper with 0.4 seconds left sealed the Clippers’ win.
Despite the encouraging offensive output, New Orleans remains last in the NBA in scoring at just 108.0 points per game. Their defense has also struggled to contain opposing guards and transition attacks, allowing 120 points or more in every single game this season.
Oklahoma City, on the other hand, has built its perfect 6-0 record on elite defense, ranking first in defensive rating (104.1). While their offense has been middle of the pack and ice-cold from beyond the arc (29.6% from three), the Thunder’s balance, rebounding, and pace have carried them.
They’ve remained unbeaten even without Jalen Williams (wrist surgery recovery) and with Chet Holmgren missing the past two games. Holmgren, before being sidelined, averaged 23.0 points and 10.3 rebounds through his first four appearances, giving OKC a major interior presence.
Prediction
Oklahoma City’s defense should again prove too much for a Pelicans team that’s still searching for consistency and floor spacing. Expect the Thunder to control tempo, limit transition chances, and stay perfect at home.
Prediction: Thunder 122, Pelicans 104
Injury Report
New Orleans Pelicans
Kevon Looney — Questionable (left knee sprain)
Dejounte Murray — Out (right Achilles’ injury)
Oklahoma City Thunder
Chet Holmgren — Out (lower back sprain)
Jalen Williams — Out (right wrist)
Kenrich Williams — Out (left knee)
Nikola Topic — Out (surgical recovery)
How to Watch Pelicans vs. Thunder
Tip-off for tonight’s New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder game is set for 3:30 PM Eastern / 2:30 PM Central at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The game airs live on FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma and Gulf Coast Sports.
Fans in the Thunder broadcast market without a FanDuel Sports Network subscription can purchase one on Amazon here.
Out-of-market viewers can stream the matchup on NBA League Pass for free on Amazon Prime Video with a 7-day free trial here.
Amazon also offers a discounted subscription that starts at $12.74 for the first two months (then $16.99/month). The subscription also includes access to NBA TV.
Fans can also choose a Team Pass to follow one team’s games for $13.99 per month.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025
Time: 3:30 PM Eastern / 2:30 PM Central
Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma, Gulf Coast Sports
Streaming: NBA League Pass (out-of-market)