* After one quarter of play, the Oklahoma City Thunder led the New Orleans Pelicans by a score of 49-25. It looked like the kind of night the Thunder could name its score.
* With just 4 minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Pelicans didn't have a single rebound. At one point, the Pelicans had 6 turnovers and just 4 shot attempts. It was a rough first quarter for New Orleans.
* The Pelicans were without Zion Williamson and a host of others, along with integrating an interim coach. The Pels were going to be bad, but honestly, I give them credit for their fight. They kept the game closer than the Warriors and Lakers did against OKC.
* In fact, New Orleans got within 11 with 4:44 remaining in the game. I started to wonder if Mark Daigneault would have to wake SGA up from his typical fourth-quarter napping time to re-enter the game.
* But no, Shai only had to play 29 minutes. The defending MVP was effective in those limited minutes, scoring 23 on just 9 shots, to go along with 8 assists and 3 steals.
* The 49 points in the first quarter is the most Oklahoma City has ever scored in a quarter.
* Analyzing this game, when the Thunder was dialed in, it manhandled the Pelicans. That opening quarter, plus bursts in the third, kept the game out of reach for New Orleans.
* The rest of the game, quite honestly, was not near as sharp. The Thunder had 16 turnovers, leading to 30 Pelicans' points. That's not characteristic Thunder basketball.
* I kind of enjoyed watching Jeremiah Fears, who led NO with 23 points. I am an OU fan, so I've got that influencing me, but offensively the rookie has some game. There's a lot to refine, but dare I say his handles remind me a bit of SGA?
* The Thunder really wants to treat a dead-ball turnover like a live-ball turnover. The in-bounder rushes to the sideline, begging the refs for the ball. By my count, the refs have indulged the request roughly 0 times this season.
* Chet Holmgren, yet again very good. Chet led the team in scoring with 26 and nearly had a double-double by grabbing 9 rebounds.
* Isaiah Hartenstein with yet another Isaiah Hartenstein game. Hart scored 16 points, had a big game with 5 offensive rebounds, dished 5 assists, and had 4 steals. He also took a three-pointer. It was very wide right, but I'm with Michael Cage, one of these days it's going to fall, so keep taking em big guy.
* Ajay Mitchell was a team-worst -18. Not sure what to do with that information.
* Jaylin Williams returned from injury. Alex Caruso could have played. The Thunder are getting healthier (_knocks on wood_). We're just waiting on that Jalen Williams update...
* OKC's on a 76.5-win pace.
I called Lu Dort rusty after the Hornets game. I'm sorry about that Lu.
Dort came out unafraid to launch threes. He took OKC's first 3 shots (all threes), and nailed 2 of them, nary a piece of the rim being nicked. Dort went on to shoot 4-of-6 from beyond the arc while scoring 17 total points.
There's been some talk about the Thunder's next offseason, when the team salaries really balloon and OKC enters its apron era. With Hartenstein's solid to great play, Dort's name has been thrown about as a potential loss leading into the 2026-2027 season.
I'm ready to pump the brakes on the talk (even when I start it on the Daily Thunder Podcast). We should be enjoying this team. I don't know about y'all, but I am for sure loving following a team this good, this dominant, and this deep.
Next offseason is an interesting topic, but what's happening on the court this season is far more worth focusing on. The Thunder has already done something special (it won a championship!), and watching how this team is dialed in to earn a repeat is a thing of beauty.
So, enjoy the Lu Dort three-point barrage when it happens. Enjoy it when Isaiah Hartenstein slams home another alley-oop. We've got a lot of season to enjoy.