OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans predicted starting lineups and depth chart for Dec. 7 | 2024-24 NBA season

The OKC Thunder will face the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, the second time they will meet this season. Oklahoma, which handily won 106-88 in the first encounter, hopes to stay unbeaten against its opponent in the season series. Chet Holmgren continues to sit with an injury, but Alex Caruso will play.

The Pelicans are starting to get healthy again and showed how dangerous they could be by beating the Phoenix Suns 126-124 on Thursday. Zion Williamson is still out with a hamstring injury, but Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram are healthy to lead the hosts.

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OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans: NBA Injury Report

OKC Thunder injury report

Jaylin Williams (hamstring), Chet Holmgren (fracture), Nikola Topic (surgery recovery) and Ousmane Dieng (finger) will not play against the Pelicans. Dillon Jones is also out on G League assignment.

New Orleans Pelicans injury report

Zion Williamson (hamstring), Karlo Matkovic (back), Jose Alvarado (hamstring) and Jordan Hawkins (spine) are ruled out. Daniel Theis is questionable because of neck spasms, while Antonio Reeves has been assigned to the G League.

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OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans: Starting lineups and depth chart

OKC Thunder starting lineup and depth chart

Starters	2nd	3rd
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Lu Dort	Alex Caruso	Cason Wallace
Isaiah Joe	Aaron Wiggins	Ajay Mitchell
Jalen Williams	Kenrich Williams
Chet Holmgren	Branden Carlson

New Orleans Pelicans starting lineup and depth chart

Starters	2nd	3rd
Dejounte Murray
CJ McCollum	Brandon Boston Jr.	Javonte Green
Brandon Ingram	Trey Murphy III	Jamal Cain
Herb Jones	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Yves Missi	Trey Jemison

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OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans: Key matchups

Dejounte Murray vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Dejounte Murray is an excellent defender but will be tested by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s MVP runner-up. The Pelicans badly need Murray to do his part in trying to slow down SGA, the engine that makes the Thunder’s offense hum.

The Canadian is averaging 29.8 points per game on 507% shooting and dishes out 6.5 assists per contest. Murray will have his work cut out for him.

Jalen Williams vs Herb Jones

Jalen Williams is averaging a career-high 21.7 PPG this season and has become OKC’s best scorer after Gilgeou-Alexander. Herb Jones’ return from injury layoff could not have come at a better time for the Pelicans. The All-NBA Defensive team member will be asked to shadow Williams on Saturday.

Jones will also likely get his chance to defend SGA as he is bigger than Murray, but he will likely be Williams’ primary guard.

Isaiah Hartenstein vs Yves Missi

Isaiah Hartenstein is the Thunder’s unsung hero this season. Oklahoma has kept rolling despite Chet Holmgren’s injury because of his presence. He is limited offensively, but he is an underrated passer and a relentless rebounder. Hartenstein is averaging 11.7 PPG and 12.9 RPG this season. Limiting his impact will fall on Yves Missi, the Pelicans’ rookie center.

Missi is no slouch under the boards. He had 12 rebounds against the Phoenix Suns, half of which came on the offensive end. The battle in the paint between him and Hartenstein will be interesting.