Pelicans capture needed win at Thunder

Coming off a very difficult loss at Denver Wednesday night, the Pelicans had to have short-term memory and long leg length to play a night later in Oklahoma City.

New Orleans was up to the task.

The Pelicans bounced back Thursday night with a 109-95 win over the Thunder.

New Orleans took a 31-20 lead after one quarter and held off the Thunder the rest of the way.

The big spurt was a 19-3 run to end the first half to take a commanding 60-43 lead.

Oklahoma City never threatened the rest of the way as the closest the Thunder got in the fourth quarter was within 12 points.

Zion Williamson had 27 points, eight rebounds and 6 assists while Brandon Ingram had 24 points, six rebounds & 3 assists. Billy Hernangomez had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Pelicans won despite making just 5-of-29 (17.2%) from three-point range.

The inconsistency of Lonzo Ball was on full display once again.

One night after playing a brilliant all-around game, Ball was 0-for-8 from three-point range against Oklahoma City. Ball did have 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals, contributing in other areas.

Eric Bledsoe was 0-for-4 from three point range.

It is not often in the NBA that your starting guards combine to go 0-for-12 from three-point range and you win. Add the fact that Ingram was just 1-of-5 from three-point range and it is even more amazing.

That speaks volumes about the level of competition the Pelicans faced.

With all due respect, the Thunder feature a bunch of names that, if you don’t pay keen attention to the NBA, you would not have any clue who they were.

Oklahoma City barely exceeded 38 percent from the field and 28 percent from three-point range. The Thunder also committed 22 turnovers.

Now 28-35 with 9 games left, the Pelicans are now three games behind Golden State for the 10th and final play-in spot and play at Minnesota Saturday.