New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction | 01.27.26

New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, Odds & NBA Picks | 27-01-2026

The regular season brings an intriguing matchup to the Paycom Center on January 27, 2026, at 8:00 PM, as the struggling New Orleans Pelicans (12-36) visit the formidable Oklahoma City Thunder (37-10). This clash pits a team desperate for wins against a Western Conference powerhouse aiming to solidify its top seed. While the records suggest a clear favorite, the nuances of player performance and recent injury reports paint a more complex picture for this highly anticipated contest in Oklahoma City.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Matchup Preview

New Orleans Pelicans Key Stats & Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans arrive with a disappointing 12-36 record, indicative of a challenging season marked by inconsistency. Despite their struggles, they possess individual talent capable of keeping games competitive. Trey Murphy III has been a consistent bright spot, leading the team with 22.2 points per game and boasting an impressive all-around rating of 22.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG. Rookie Derik Queen has quickly asserted himself as a pivotal presence in the paint, leading the team in both rebounds (7.4 RPG) and assists (4.3 APG), showcasing his versatility. However, the team’s overall defensive lapses and offensive droughts have been significant hurdles.

Injury Report New Orleans Pelicans

• Dejounte Murray (Out): Pelicans head coach James Borrego said Sunday that Murray (Achilles) is “making a lot of progress” but doesn’t appear to be close to making his season debut, Rod Walker of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. “We hope to get him back in our building here soon. He’s doing a lot of work getting ready to get back here,” Borrego said of Murray. “I say in the next month we’ll have a little bit more clarity on where he’s at. But he’s made a lot of progress. Significant progress.”

Oklahoma City Thunder Key Stats & Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder enter this contest as one of the league’s elite, boasting an impressive 37-10 record. Their success is largely attributed to the MVP-caliber play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging a staggering 32.1 points per game and orchestrating the offense with 6.2 assists per game. His comprehensive rating of 32.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG underscores his impact. Complementing SGA, Chet Holmgren anchors the defense and provides significant offensive punch, leading the team with 8.6 rebounds per game. The Thunder’s fast-paced, high-efficiency offense combined with their disruptive defense makes them a formidable opponent.

Injury Report Oklahoma City Thunder

• Alex Caruso (Out): Caruso is out for Tuesday’s game against the Pelicans with a right adductor strain.
• Cason Wallace (Day-to-day): Wallace (hip) is questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Pelicans.
• Isaiah Hartenstein (Out): Hartenstein (calf) won’t play Tuesday against the Pelicans.
• Ajay Mitchell (Out): Mitchell is out for Tuesday’s game against the Pelicans with an abdominal strain.
• Jalen Williams (Out): Williams (hamstring) will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman reports.
• Nikola Topic (Out): Topic has been diagnosed with testicular cancer, Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced Thursday, Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman reports.
• Thomas Sorber (Out): The Thunder announced Friday that Sorber has sustained a torn ACL in his right knee during an offseason workout, NBA reporter Marc Stein reports.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction & Best Bet

Despite the vast difference in records, the extensive injury report for the Oklahoma City Thunder significantly impacts this matchup. Missing key defensive specialist Alex Caruso, versatile forward Jalen Williams, and reliable big man Isaiah Hartenstein, alongside several other rotational pieces, will test OKC’s depth. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren remain formidable, covering a large spread against a Pelicans team that features the scoring prowess of Trey Murphy III and the all-around game of Derik Queen could prove challenging for a depleted Thunder squad. The Pelicans, though struggling, have enough offensive talent to exploit these absences and keep the game closer than anticipated.

Considering the Thunder’s defensive losses due to injury and their inherent offensive firepower, coupled with the Pelicans’ ability to score, we anticipate a relatively high-scoring affair. The total points line of 234.5 seems attainable given the circumstances.

Predicted Winner: New Orleans Pelicans +14.5 (Spread)

Over/Under Pick: over 234.5