New Orleans Pelicans vs OKC Thunder Match Player Stats – Complete Analysis (April 13, 2025)
The New Orleans Pelicans vs OKC Thunder season finale on April 13, 2025, showcased depth players from both rosters as stars rested ahead of the offseason. Oklahoma City secured a comfortable 115-100 victory at the Smoothie King Center, with several role players posting career-best numbers in extended minutes.
Game Context
This matchup represented dramatically different endings for each franchise:
Oklahoma City (68-14) had already secured the Western Conference’s top seed.
New Orleans (21-61) closed out a disappointing campaign, finishing 14th in the conference.
With playoff positioning finalized, both teams prioritized player evaluation over competitive stakes.
Standout Performers
Thunder Players
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Wiggins | 36:30 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 8-18 (44%) | 2-6 (33%) | 10-10 (100%) |
| Branden Carlson | 38:33 | 26 | 10 | 2 | 10-19 (53%) | 2-8 (25%) | 4-4 (100%) |
| Kenrich Williams | 37:01 | 17 | 12 | 2 | 8-18 (44%) | 0-7 (0%) | 1-4 (25%) |
| Isaiah Joe | 34:48 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 5-15 (33%) | 2-11 (18%) | 5-5 (100%) |
| Dillon Jones | 36:08 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 5-7 (71%) | 1-1 (100%) | 2-2 (100%) |
Aaron Wiggins stepped into a primary scoring role, doubling his season scoring average (12.0 PPG) while demonstrating playmaking abilities with 7 assists.
Branden Carlson logged team-high minutes (38:33) and posted 26 points—a stunning 684% increase over his season average of 3.8 PPG.
Kenrich Williams and Dillon Jones dominated the glass, combining for 22 rebounds.
Pelicans Contributors
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio Reeves | 39:10 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 8-14 (57%) | 0-4 (0%) | 4-5 (80%) |
| Jamal Cain | 28:01 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 6-14 (43%) | 1-4 (25%) | 5-8 (63%) |
| Lester Quiñones | 33:35 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 5-15 (33%) | 2-9 (22%) | 5-5 (100%) |
| Keion Brooks Jr. | 39:22 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 5-10 (50%) | 1-4 (25%) | 4-5 (80%) |
| J. Robinson-Earl | 33:16 | 10 | 16 | 5 | 4-16 (25%) | 1-7 (14%) | 1-2 (50%) |
Rookie Antonio Reeves led New Orleans scorers with 20 points on efficient 57% shooting.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl controlled the glass with 16 rebounds despite shooting struggles.
Lester Quiñones showcased point guard skills with a team-high 6 assists.
Team Statistical Comparison
| Category | OKC Thunder | NO Pelicans |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | 41.8% (41-98) | 38.5% (35-91) |
| Three-Pointers | 19.1% (9-47) | 18.4% (7-38) |
| Free Throws | 88.9% (24-27) | 76.7% (23-30) |
| Total Rebounds | 54 | 47 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 17 | 11 |
| Assists | 16 | 22 |
| Steals | 8 | 6 |
| Blocks | 4 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 13 |
| Second Chance Points | 21 | 11 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 17 | 9 |
| Points in Paint | 60 | 52 |
Both teams struggled tremendously from beyond the arc, with combined three-point shooting at a frigid 18.8% (16/85).
The rebounding battle proved decisive, with OKC’s 17-11 advantage on the offensive glass generating critical second-chance opportunities.
Thunder’s superior free throw shooting (88.9% vs 76.7%) provided an efficiency edge in a game marked by poor overall shooting.
Statistical Anomalies
The end-of-season context created several dramatic statistical outliers:
Aaron Wiggins: +16.0 points above season average
Branden Carlson: +22.2 points above season average Jeremiah
Robinson-Earl: +11.2 rebounds above season average
Lester Quiñones: +4.2 assists above season average
These numbers reflect expanded opportunities rather than sustainable production expectations.
Developmental Value
For Oklahoma City, the game confirmed their exceptional organizational depth, as bench players executed system principles effectively without stars present.
New Orleans gained valuable evaluation data on young prospects like Antonio Reeves and Jamal Cain, potentially informing offseason roster decisions following their challenging 21-61 campaign.
The New Orleans Pelicans vs OKC Thunder matchup may have lacked playoff intensity, but the statistical performances revealed meaningful insights about player capabilities and organizational depth for both franchises.
