NEW ORLEANS — Chet Holmgren delivered one of his most efficient performances of the young season, scoring 26 points with nine rebounds as the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled to a decisive 126–109 win over the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.

The Thunder wasted no time asserting control, exploding for 49 first-quarter points, the most in franchise history, and never looked back as they cruised to their sixth straight victory. Oklahoma City has now won 14 of its first 15 games, positioning itself as an early powerhouse in the Western Conference.

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Thunder Set Franchise Record With 49-Point First Quarter

Behind Holmgren’s interior dominance and a balanced offensive attack, the Thunder raced out to a double-digit lead less than three minutes into the game. By the eight-minute mark, the advantage had ballooned to 20 as New Orleans struggled with turnovers and defensive breakdowns.

The Pelicans committed six turnovers in the first six minutes, leading to 13 OKC points and fueling the Thunder’s 24–8 surge to open the night. When Brandon Carlson hit a pair of free throws to make it 36–11, the Thunder had scored on 15 of their last 17 possessions, suffocating New Orleans before the first quarter had even closed.

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Oklahoma City’s Stars Shine

⭐ Chet Holmgren: 26 points, 9 rebounds
⭐ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 23 points
⭐ Lu Dort: 17 points
⭐ Isaiah Hartenstein: 16 points

Gilgeous-Alexander played his trademark downhill style, Dort added physicality and shot-making, and the Thunder’s depth overwhelmed New Orleans at every level of the floor.

Oklahoma City’s defensive pressure also forced New Orleans into rushed possessions and mistakes, especially early, allowing the Thunder to set the tone for the rest of the night.

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Pelicans Continue to Struggle Amid Injuries, Coaching Change

The Pelicans, who have now dropped six straight for the second time this season, continue to reel. The team remains without Zion Williamson (hamstring), who missed his ninth game of the year, and Saddiq Bey (ankle) was also unavailable.

Even with strong individual performances, New Orleans couldn’t match Oklahoma City’s depth or defensive intensity:

• Jeremiah Fears: Season-high 24 points
• Trey Murphy III: 18 points
• Micah Peavy: Season-high 16 points (off the bench)

Since the firing of head coach Willie Green and the promotion of interim coach James Borrego, the Pelicans have now lost two straight and continue searching for stability on both ends of the floor.

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Second-Half Push Not Enough for New Orleans

New Orleans briefly found rhythm in the second quarter, shooting 52.6% and trimming the deficit to 69–56 at halftime. But the Thunder stomped out any comeback hopes with a 24–11 third-quarter run, capped by a Holmgren sequence featuring a made 3-pointer followed by a dynamic cutting dunk.

By the time the Thunder stretched the lead to 93–67, the game was out of reach.

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What’s Next

Thunder: Host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday in another potential high-scoring Western Conference matchup.
Pelicans: Continue their homestand against the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.