Basketball fans love checking player stats after a big game. Numbers tell a story that highlights and headlines often miss. In this article, we look closely at the New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder match player stats from their April 13, 2025 regular season finale. This game closed out the NBA season for both teams, and the final score was 115-100 in favor of the Thunder. But the score alone does not explain what really happened on the court. Let’s break down the numbers, the top performers, and what this game meant for both teams.
Game Overview
The Oklahoma City Thunder faced the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday, April 13, 2025. This was the last game of the regular season for both clubs. A total of 17,761 fans filled the arena for a sellout crowd.
This matchup carried little pressure since both teams already knew their playoff fate. The Thunder had already locked up the best record in the league, and the Pelicans had already been out of playoff contention for weeks. Still, the game gave young players a chance to show what they could do, and that made the stats even more interesting.
The Thunder won 115-100, closing their season with a record of 68 wins and 14 losses. This was the best regular season record in franchise history. On the other side, the Pelicans ended their year with a 21-61 record, which is the second-worst mark in franchise history.
Here is how the scoring went by quarter:
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder | 38 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 115 |
| Pelicans | 19 | 30 | 23 | 28 | 100 |
The Thunder came out fast, scoring 38 points in the first quarter alone and building an early lead of 20 points. The Pelicans fought back in the second quarter, outscoring the Thunder 30-26, but they could never fully close the gap.
Why the Rosters Looked Different Than Usual
Before we get into the player stats, it helps to know why so many familiar names were missing from both lineups.
The Thunder rested almost their entire starting group. Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not play due to a shin issue. Big man Chet Holmgren sat out with a back spasm. Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, and Alex Caruso were also held out. With the top seed in the Western Conference already locked up, the coaching staff chose to protect their key players before the playoffs.
The Pelicans, on the other hand, were dealing with a long list of injuries that had piled up over the season. Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, and Herbert Jones were all unavailable. In fact, New Orleans only had eight healthy players available for this game, which made it tough for them to keep pace with a deep Thunder bench.
This context matters a lot when looking at the player stats below. Many of the top scorers in this game were bench players and younger rotation guys who do not usually get this much playing time.
Top Performers: Oklahoma City Thunder
Aaron Wiggins Led the Way
Aaron Wiggins was the standout player of the game. He scored a game-high 28 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field, including 2-of-6 from three-point range. He was nearly perfect from the free-throw line, hitting all 10 of his attempts. Wiggins also added 7 assists and 5 rebounds in nearly 37 minutes on the floor. His mix of scoring and playmaking kept the Thunder offense moving all night.
Branden Carlson’s Breakout Game
Rookie center Branden Carlson had the best game of his young career. Coming off the bench, he scored a season-high 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds, and blocked 3 shots. Carlson also made 2 three-pointers, showing a nice touch from outside for a big man. His performance gave the Thunder a strong scoring boost every time their starters needed a rest.
Kenrich Williams Filled the Stat Sheet
Kenrich Williams put together a well-rounded game with 17 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. He shot 8-of-18 from the field and added 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 three-pointer. Williams has built a reputation as a hustle player who does the small things well, and this game was a good example of that.
Isaiah Joe’s Outside Shooting
Isaiah Joe scored 17 points, hitting 5 of his 15 shots from the field, including 2 three-pointers on 11 attempts. He also went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line and added 3 assists. While his shooting percentage was not the highest of the night, his ability to create his own shot helped keep the Pelicans defense on its toes.
Dillon Jones Made the Most of His Start
Making just his third start of the season, Dillon Jones scored 13 points on efficient 5-of-7 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double. He also added 1 assist and 1 steal in just over 36 minutes.
Top Performers: New Orleans Pelicans
Antonio Reeves Steps Up
Rookie guard Antonio Reeves led the Pelicans in scoring with 20 points. With so many veterans out due to injury, Reeves got extra minutes and used them well, showing the kind of shot-making ability that could help him earn a bigger role next season.
Jamal Cain’s Strong Night
Jamal Cain added 18 points for New Orleans, giving the Pelicans a second scoring option to lean on. His performance was one of the few bright spots in a tough final game of a difficult season.
Lester Quinones Chips In
Lester Quinones scored 17 points for the Pelicans, helping the team stay competitive in stretches, especially during their strong second-quarter run.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s Double-Double
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl was the top rebounder for New Orleans, finishing with 10 points and 16 rebounds. At one point, his three-pointer pulled the Pelicans within six points of the Thunder, at 71-65, giving the home crowd a moment of hope before Oklahoma City pulled away again in the fourth quarter.
Team Stats That Explain the Result
Looking beyond individual player stats, a few team numbers help explain why the Thunder controlled the game from start to finish.
Points in the paint: The Thunder outscored the Pelicans 60 to 52 in the paint. This showed their size and physical advantage, especially with Branden Carlson and Dillon Jones crashing the boards and finishing close to the rim.
Bench scoring: Oklahoma City’s bench, led by Carlson, Isaiah Joe, and Adam Flagler, provided a huge amount of offense. This depth is part of why the Thunder were able to rest their stars and still win comfortably.
Rebounding: The Thunder also won the rebounding battle, led by Kenrich Williams’ 12 boards and Branden Carlson’s 10. This gave Oklahoma City extra scoring chances and limited New Orleans’ second-chance points.
Turnovers: The Pelicans, playing with a short-handed roster, struggled at times to maintain ball control against the Thunder’s active defense, which added to their struggles in building any real scoring runs.
What This Game Meant for Both Teams
For the Thunder, this win was the final piece of a historic regular season. Finishing 68-14 gave them the best record in franchise history and set them up as one of the top favorites heading into the playoffs. Even with most of their stars resting, the team’s depth showed why they were so successful all year. Young players like Branden Carlson and Aaron Wiggins proved they could step up and contribute in meaningful ways, which is valuable for a team building a roster that can handle a long playoff run.
For the Pelicans, the game was a tough way to end a season full of injuries and setbacks. Missing so many key players by the final stretch made it hard to judge the team’s true potential. However, players like Antonio Reeves and Jamal Cain used the extra minutes to show flashes of what they could bring in the future. For a rebuilding team, these kinds of performances matter, even in a loss.
Final Thoughts
The New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder match player stats from this game tell a story of two teams heading in very different directions. The Thunder wrapped up a franchise-best season with balanced scoring and strong depth, while the Pelicans, despite a rough injury-filled year, still found bright spots from their younger players.
Games like this, played without many of the biggest stars, often get overlooked. But they can reveal a lot about a team’s depth, culture, and future plans. For Thunder fans, this game was a preview of the bench strength that would support their playoff run. For Pelicans fans, it was a small glimpse of hope from players who could be part of the team’s next chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored the most points in the Pelicans vs Thunder game on April 13, 2025?
Aaron Wiggins led all scorers with 28 points for the Thunder. He also added 7 assists and shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line.
What was the final score of the Pelicans vs Thunder game?
The Oklahoma City Thunder won the game 115-100 over the New Orleans Pelicans. This result gave the Thunder a final regular season record of 68-14, the best in team history.
Why were so many star players missing from this game?
The Thunder had already secured the top seed in the Western Conference, so they rested key players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. The Pelicans were dealing with a long list of season-ending injuries to players such as Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, leaving them with only eight available players for this game.
