NBA Preview: New Orleans Pelicans @ Oklahoma City Thunder

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Tip-off: 8:00 p.m. ET

Broadcast: TNT

Line: OKC -12

New Orleans Pelicans (20-32) (2-3 in last 5)

Pelicans

PG- Jrue Holiday (14.9 ppg)

SG- Norris Cole (9.9 ppg)

SF- Alonzo Gee (4.0 ppg)

PF- Anthony Davis (23.4 ppg)

C- Omer Asik (3.7 ppg)

Oklahoma City Thunder (39-14) (4-1 in last 5)

Thunder

PG- Russell Westbrook (24.1 ppg)

SG- Dion Waiters (10.0 ppg)

SF- Kevin Durant (27.8 ppg)

PF- Serge Ibaka (12.6 ppg)

C- Steven Adams (7.2 ppg)

Key Matchup

Anthony Davis vs. Serge Ibaka

Serge Ibaka has his work cut out for him tonight. Anthony Davis is the Pelicans best player leading the team in points, rebounds and blocks per game. With Tyreke Evans out, Davis leads the team in steals among active players, per ESPN.com. Ibaka is the Thunder’s best defensive player averaging 2.17 blocks per game, per ESPN.comThis matchup will decide the winner of tonight’s game. 

Pelicans Key Storyline

Tyreke Evans likely out for season

Injuries have decimated the Pelicans all season. Already without Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans is likely to undergo surgery on his right knee that will sideline him for the rest of the season, according to Yahoo. This is the same knee that kept Evans out for the first month of the season. Evans was the Pelicans best player not named Anthony Davis. Davis is patiently waiting for a healthy star to compliment him in New Orleans. 

Thunder Key Storyline

Monty Williams wife’s unfortunate death

According to multiple reports, Ingrid Williams, 44, died in a car crash Tuesday night. Williams was wife of Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams. She was hit head-on by an oncoming car that passed the center lane. Williams died Wednesday in the hospital while the driver died at the scene. All three Williams children involved in crash are okay, according to police. This is the Thunder’s first game since the crash and last game before All-Star weekend. The news effected the entire Thunder organization, including Kevin Durant. 

Ingrid Williams will be missed. 

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