Thunder vs Pelicans Preview: NBA Preseason Records, Form and Head-to-Head
Thunder vs Pelicans (OKC vs NOP) is a 2026-27 NBA preseason game, tipping off Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 8:00 PM. This preview covers both teams’ regular-season records and home/road splits from last season, their meetings in 2025-26, and what is actually worth watching at this stage of the calendar. All data is current as of 2026-09-29 and comes from official box scores via balldontlie and TheSportsDB.
The regular season has not yet started, leaving both teams at zero games for 2026-27. All records and per-game figures below are from the 2025-26 regular season. Given the offseason roster changes, these figures provide background context and should not be treated as a direct measure of either team’s current strength.
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Thunder vs Pelicans game information
| Tip-off (ET) | Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 8:00 PM |
| Tip-off (UTC) | Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 00:00 |
| Competition | 2026-27 NBA preseason |
| Away | Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) |
| Home | New Orleans Pelicans (NOP) |
Preseason rotations and minutes are determined entirely by the coaching staff, with starters often limited to a half or held out altogether. Home-court advantage has little analytical value at this stage and is therefore excluded from this preview.
Oklahoma City Thunder: 2025-26 regular season in review
The Thunder played 82 games in the 2025-26 regular season and finished 64-18, scoring 119.0 points per game and allowing 107.9, for a net of 11.1. Combined scoring in their games averaged 226.9 points, which is the starting point for any totals read.
| 2025-26 regular season | Games | Record | PPG | Opp PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full season | 82 | 64-18 | 119.0 | 107.9 |
| Home | 42 | 34-8 | 118.9 | 107.4 |
| Road | 40 | 30-10 | 119.2 | 108.3 |
| Final 10 games | 10 | 7-3 | 121.1 | 110.8 |
They recorded 34-8 at home and 30-10 on the road, averaging 0.3 more points per game at home. Thunder is the visiting team in this matchup. They reached the playoffs and finished 11-4 across 15 games, averaging 115.5 points and allowing 108.4. The sample is limited and the figures are listed here as fact.
New Orleans Pelicans: 2025-26 regular season in review
The Pelicans played 82 games in the 2025-26 regular season and finished 26-56, scoring 115.5 points per game and allowing 120.0, for a net of -4.5. Combined scoring in their games averaged 235.5 points, which is the starting point for any totals read.
| 2025-26 regular season | Games | Record | PPG | Opp PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full season | 82 | 26-56 | 115.5 | 120.0 |
| Home | 41 | 17-24 | 118.2 | 119.5 |
| Road | 41 | 9-32 | 112.9 | 120.5 |
| Final 10 games | 10 | 1-9 | 115.9 | 126.3 |
They recorded 17-24 at home and 9-32 on the road, averaging 5.3 more points per game at home. Pelicans is the home team in this matchup. They did not qualify for the playoffs last season.
Thunder vs Pelicans head-to-head last season
The two teams met 3 times in the 2025-26 regular season: Thunder won 3 and Pelicans won 0.
| Date | Home | Away | Score (home-away) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-27 | Thunder | Pelicans | 104-95 | Thunder |
| 2025-11-17 | Pelicans | Thunder | 109-126 | Thunder |
| 2025-11-02 | Thunder | Pelicans | 137-106 | Thunder |
3 games are a limited sample, and both rosters changed in the offseason. This record reflects last season’s matchup results and does not establish that the same pattern will continue this season.
What to watch in this preseason game
- Tempo gap: combined scoring averaged 226.9 points in Thunder games and 235.5 in Pelicans games last season, a gap of 8.6. Which way this one trends is the first readable signal.
- Fourth quarters: last season Thunder averaged 27.9 points and allowed 26.2 in the fourth; Pelicans averaged 28.0 and allowed 29.3.
- What preseason is for: assessing how new signings fit, how rookies adapt, and how starters perform under restricted minutes. The scoreline has limited significance; rotation patterns are the primary focus.
- Injuries and starters: this preview does not speculate on player availability or projected lineups. Consult the official NBA injury report before tip-off.
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Frequently asked questions
What time do the Thunder and Pelicans tip off?
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET.
Is this a regular-season or preseason game?
This is a 2026-27 NBA preseason game. It does not count toward regular-season records, and minutes for key players are decided by the coaching staff.
How did these two teams fare against each other last season?
They met 3 times in the 2025-26 regular season: Thunder won 3, Pelicans won 0. Scores: 104-95, 109-126, 137-106. That is a 3-game sample and both rosters changed over the summer, so treat it as background only.
Can last season’s numbers predict a preseason game?
Only to a limited extent. Last season’s numbers reflect last season’s rosters. After summer trades, signings and draft picks, both teams need to be reassessed, and preseason games are not played at full intensity anyway.
How do I get the Mysports.AI prediction?
Model predictions are not published in these articles. Message Mysports.AI support on Telegram to request free access, which covers that day’s complimentary game and may not include a specific matchup.
Data current as of 2026-09-29, from official box scores via balldontlie and TheSportsDB. Advanced metrics, injury reports and starting lineups are not included. This article is a pre-game data summary and does not constitute betting advice. You must be of legal gambling age in your jurisdiction.