Opinion
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Pelicans Primed for Redemption in Home Court Duel with Oklahoma City Thunder

The New Orleans Pelicans are gearing up for a pivotal matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans, coming off a recent victory over the Clippers with a score of 112-104, showcased their resilience and ability to close out games. Despite trailing in the first quarter, they surged ahead to lead for over 31 minutes of game time, demonstrating their capacity to bounce back and maintain control.


NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 26: CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 26, 2024 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)

In that game on March 16th, the Pelicans exhibited an impressive offensive display by scoring 58 points in the paint and converting on fast-break opportunities. Their bench depth was evident as they contributed a significant 43 points. This depth will be crucial against OKC's defense.


However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for NOP as they faced defeat at the hands of Cleveland Cavaliers just two days prior on March 14th. The Cavaliers dominated with superior ball movement resulting in an astounding 38 assists and capitalized on fast-breaks scoring 26 points from such plays. NOP struggled from beyond the arc hitting only 18 percent of their three-point attempts which ultimately contributed to their downfall.


NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 26: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 26, 2024 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)

Looking back further into NOP's performance on March 10th against Atlanta Hawks reveals another facet of this team's character – their tenacity on both ends of the floor. They managed to secure a win despite being away from home turf by posting an impressive offensive rating and dominating inside with 56 points in paint.


As NOP prepares for OKC, fans can expect them to leverage these strengths while addressing weaknesses exposed by previous opponents. The key battle will likely be fought under the rim where NOP has shown prowess but will face OKC’s robust defense.


NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 26: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl #50 of the New Orleans Pelicans dunks the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 26, 2024 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)

With Brandon Ingram leading from the front alongside Zion Williamson who has been instrumental this season, NOP has all tools necessary for redemption after their loss against Cleveland Cavaliers. It is imperative that they tighten up perimeter defense and improve three-point shooting accuracy if they wish to overcome OKC’s challenge.


The upcoming game is scheduled for March 26th at Smoothie King Center starting at 7:00 PM CT. Fans eager not to miss any action can tune into WVUE or BSOK networks for live coverage of what promises to be an enthralling encounter between these two competitive teams.

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