Opinion
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New Orleans Pelicans Eye Redemption Against Oklahoma City Thunder at Home

As the New Orleans Pelicans gear up to host the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Smoothie King Center, fans are bracing for a game that could tip the scales in favor of either team. The Pelicans, coming off a narrow loss with a final score of 92-94 against OKC on April 22nd, are looking to leverage their home-court advantage and reverse their fortunes.


OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 21: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder warms up before tipoff against the New Orleans Pelicans in game one of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at the Paycom Center on April 21, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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.  (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

In their previous encounter, despite an impressive 60 rebounds and a solid defensive rating of 98.2 points per possession, NOP fell short by just two points. Their offensive efforts were hampered by shooting only 38 percent from the field and an underwhelming three-point percentage of 28. This time around, they must sharpen their shooting accuracy if they aim to outscore OKC's robust defense.


The Thunder's recent victory was not without its challenges; they led for nearly half the game but were pushed hard by NOP's resilience. OKC's fast-break performance was notable with a success rate of 62 percent leading to 20 fast-break points. However, it was their ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities that truly made the difference.


OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 21:  CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball during the game  against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round 1 Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2024 at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

NOP has shown potential in turning things around as evidenced by their win over Sacramento Kings on April 20th with a scoreline of 105-98. Dominating in assists with a total of 29 and bench points contributing significantly with a tally of 34, NOP demonstrated depth and teamwork that could be pivotal against OKC.


The key battle will likely be inside the paint where NOP has consistently performed well; scoring an impressive average above fifty percent across recent games indicates potency close to the basket which could counteract OKC’s strength in fast breaks and paint control.


OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 21: Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after a play against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half in game one of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at the Paycom Center on April 21, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Looking ahead to April 27th at Smoothie King Center scheduled for tip-off at 2:30 PM CT, fans can catch all action live on TNT or BSOK networks. The Pelicans have all it takes to turn this rematch into redemption – it’s now down to execution on game day where every play counts towards evening out this competitive matchup.

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