Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
When: Thursday, Feb. 13, 8:00 p.m ET
Where: Smoothie King Center
How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans
An up-and-down first half of the season for the New Orleans Pelicans could end on the highest of highs on Thursday with a win over Oklahoma City. A 13-game losing streak during the month of December has largely given way to Zion Williamson and the new-look starting lineup.
Since Williamson’s return, the starting lineup of Jrue Holiday-Lonzo Ball-Brandon Ingram-Williamson-Derrick Favors has a net rating of 17.5, ranking them fourth in the league of lineups with a minimum of 50 minutes played.
But one of the few teams to sport a lineup that can match the Pelicans in Oklahoma City. Across the entire season with a minimum of 150 minutes played, the Thunder’s lineup of Chris Paul-Dennis Schroder-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-Danilo Gallinari-Steven Adams is by far the best in the league with a net rating of 29.2.
Interestingly, should the game be close late in the fourth quarter, the contest will also be a battle between the team with the best net rating in clutch situations in the league – Oklahoma City – and the team in 27th in net rating, the Pelicans.
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