Oklahoma City Thunder Take Down New Orleans 107-83 Behind Gilgeous-Alexander's 31 Points

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the New Orleans Pelicans 107-83 on Friday night to improve their NBA-leading road record to 15-8.

It was the first of the team’s ‘Thunder Friday Nights,’ broadcasted on KSBI, Channel 52 (COX Channel 7) in Oklahoma City and News On 6 Now, Channel 6.3 (COX Channel 53) in Tulsa.

Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 13 rebounds to help the Thunder win their fourth straight on the road.

Herb Jones and Jonas Valanciunas each had 14 points for New Orleans. Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum each added 12.

Playing without Zion Willamson because of a bone bruise in his left foot, the Pelicans shot just 39% three days after setting a franchise record for points in a 153-124 victory over Utah. After making 23 3-pointers on Tuesday, New Orleans was held to 9-of-36 shooting against the Thunder en route to a season-low 83 points.

Oklahoma City also shot poorly from deep (10 of 33), but the Thunder went 13 of 14 from the foul line and forced 16 New Orleans turnovers. The Thunder missed 16 of their first 24 shots, but they made 34 of 64 over the final three quarters.

Williamson went through pregame warmups but was held out as a precaution.

The Thunder play at Detroit on Sunday, and the team’s next ‘Thunder Friday Nights’ game will be next Friday, Feb. 2, when the Charlotte Hornets come to Paycom Center to take on the Thunder. Pre-game starts at 6:30 p.m., and tip-off is at 7.