NEW ORLEANS (AP) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
Andrew 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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Takeaways<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
Key moment<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Key stat<\/p>\n
The Thunder outrebounded the Pelicans 54-47 and turned 17 offensive rebounds into 21 second-chance points.<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
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. ___<\/p>\n