Brandon Ingram He had 20 points and seven rebounds before being sent off in the third period and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-80 on Thursday night.
Eric Bledsoe added 17 points and Lonzo Ball had 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for New Orleans, which lost all four of its previous season’s games against the Thunder. But in the first game between the two this season, the Pelicans pulled off 11 points at halftime and their lead was not in jeopardy afterward.
Oklahoma City, which lost its third straight game, all at home, after winning its first game of the road campaign at Charlotte
“At the beginning of the year we will try to improve,” said New Orleans coach Stan Van Gundy. “We have had offensive difficulties so it is positive to see the ball go into the basket. It was good to score some points. I thought our defense was pretty good overall.
It was a good night and we need to keep moving forward. The games happen in a fast and furious way ”.
Oklahoma City, which lost its third straight game, all at home, after winning its first game of the road campaign at Charlotte, had been victorious in 10 of its previous 12 games on New Year’s Eve.
Al Horford was the best scorer for the Thunder with 17 points and six boards.
The Pelicans led 77-67 with 3 minutes left in the third period when Bledsoe put his arm in front of Isaiah Roby, who was attempting a layup on a counterattack.
The umpires ruled it a blatant foul and sent Ingram off, but Roby missed both free throws and Oklahoma City didn’t come within seven points for the rest of the quarter.
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