NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chet Holmgren scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds and the Oklahoma City Thunder jumped out to a double-digit lead that they held throughout the game with a 126-109 victory over the reeling New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points and Lu Dort had 17 for the Thunder, setting a franchise record for points in a quarter with 49 in the first. Isaiah Hartenstein added 16 points for Oklahoma City, which won its sixth straight game for its 14th win in 15 games to start the season.
Rookie guard Jeremiah Fiers scored a season-high 24 points and Trey Murphy III added 18 points for the Pelicans, who have lost six straight for the second time in their first 14 games and two straight since interim coach James Borrego took over after Willie Green was fired on Saturday.
New Orleans played without Zion Williamson (hamstring), who missed his ninth game of the season. Saddiq Bey (left ankle) also left the New Orleans game. Rookie Micah Peavy scored a season-high 16 points for the Pelicans as a reserve.
Oklahoma City led by ten less than three minutes into the game and by 20 before eight minutes expired.
The Pelicans committed six turnovers in the first six minutes, by which time the Thunder, leading 24–8, had scored 13 points off turnovers.
When Brandon Carlson's free throws made it 36-11, Oklahoma City had scored on 15 of its previous 17 possessions.
After the first quarter ended 49-24 with Oklahoma City leading, the second quarter was a little more competitive. The Pelicans, who shot 52.6 percent in the first 24 minutes, cut their deficit to 13 at halftime with a 69-56 score.
But the Thunder outscored the Pelicans 24-11 in the first seven minutes of the third period, leading 93-67 after Holmgren followed up with a cutaway 3-point dunk.
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