NBA Game Today: Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans - November 16, 2025

🏀 Today's matchup features the Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

📺 Broadcast: GCSEN / WVUE

⏰ Tip-off Time: 11/18/2025, 1:00:00 AM

Match Preview

NBA Game Today: Oklahoma City Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans Preview

Hey, NBA fans! Get ready to crank up the excitement levels because tonight, November 16, 2025, the Smoothie King Center will be buzzing with electric action. The Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans are set to light up the court in what promises to be an epic showdown. If you’re searching for “NBA game today,” “Oklahoma City Thunder game today,” or “New Orleans Pelicans game today,” you’re in the right spot. Tune in to GCSEN / WVUE to catch every slam dunk and alley-oop live!

First up, let's talk about those fiery key player matchups. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Thunder versus the Pelicans’ Zion Williamson is destined to be epic. Shai’s silky handles and smooth shooting are the stuff of dreams, while Zion's power and speed make him a dunking dynamo capable of shaking the rafters. Look out for Josh Giddey battling against CJ McCollum; Giddey’s court vision and passing wizardry are up against CJ’s sharpshooting prowess. Grab your popcorn because these duels are going to be jaw-droppers.

Now, what's cooking with each team? The Oklahoma City Thunder have been surprising everyone with their versatility and youthful energy. They're like that sneaky underdog with nothing to lose, tossing up three-pointers like confetti. Their speed and outside shooting are major strengths but watch out because their defense can get a bit leaky at times. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are all about brute force and domination inside the paint. With Zion leading the charge, they’ve got the muscle and grit, but they often get a bit too focused on the one-on-one plays, leaving their defense spread too thin.

The Thunder need to capitalize on their fast-paced game and keep feeding their shooters, especially when the Pelicans sag in the paint. Defensive intensity will be key, shutting down those lanes Zion loves to hammer through. For the Pelicans, controlling the tempo is essential. They need to pound the ball inside, force the Thunder to crash down low, and exploit any mismatches they can find. If they can keep the ball moving and find open looks for McCollum, they’ll put real pressure on the Thunder’s defense.

Alright, prediction time! Picture this: Thunder grip the lead in the first half with an insane shooting spree while the Smoothie King Center collectively gasps. But hold onto your beignets! The Pelicans surge back, storming the court with Zion's thunderous dunks and McCollum's sweet jumpers raining down the net. In an absolute nail-biter, I'm calling it—Pelicans edge out the Thunder in a heart-stopping finish, 117-112. So, gear up, my NBA pals, because tonight’s game is gonna be lit!

🔥 Stay tuned for updates on today’s Thunder vs Pelicans NBA matchup!