Thunder outlast Pelicans, 115-104

This was a weird game from the outset. It was a bit dead in Chesapeake Energy Arena and both teams played as if the energy was derived from the fans. But then you look at the first half score and you would shrug. It did not seem like the Thunder scored 65 points in the first half and ended the game with 115.

But a win is a win and the Thunder beat the Pelicans without Steven Adams tonight, 115-104.

Early it seemed we were headed toward a 88-84 Bulls-Knicks 90s style game. Then Chris Paul knocked down a couple of threes and the flood gates on the scoring opened up after that.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an excellent first half enroute to having 23 points for the night.

The second half opened up a little peculiar as well. A rookie official granted Billy Donovan a timeout when no team had possession and a few moments later Darius Bazley double, triple, and may even quadrupled dribbled and all three officials let it go. Everyone kept waiting for a whistle to blow, but it never came and Bazley took advantage.

The Thunder were never really challenged in the second half as they kept the Pelicans at arm’s length the entire time. The closest the Pels came was four points, but those four points felt like 14.

Paul had 15 and 9 for the Thunder, Gallinari chipped in 16 points, while Bazley and Dennis Schroder each had 17 points off the bench. Hamidou Diallo added 12.

The Thunder, now 2-4, continue their homestand with the Orlando Magic coming in on Tuesday night.