Chet Holmgren scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder raced to an early double-digit lead they maintained throughout in a 126-109 victory over the reeling New Orleans Pelicans.

The Thunder (13-1) have won five in a row. A second-half surge helped them collect a 109-96 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an efficient 33 points in three quarters. Chet Holmgren scored 25 points on high volume.

Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led a balanced attack with 26 and 23 points, respectively, and Isaiah Hartenstein registered a career-high-tying four steals in a solid all-around game as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder handed New Orleans Pelicans interim coach James Borrego a second straight defeat,

The Pelicans (2-12) scored the first basket of the game -- an early 16-footer by rookie Jeremiah Fears -- and then never led again as they lost their sixth consecutive game. New Orleans is 0-2 since Saturday, when head coach Willie Green was fired and replaced with interim coach James Borrego.

Zion Williamson won't be available for the Pelicans' game against the Thunder on Monday as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

It’s one thing to be the reigning champs. It’s another thing entirely to come out a month into the new season and look like you’ve somehow gotten better.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are cruising to start this season, sitting at 13-1 with the best net rating and defensive rating in the NBA. This on the heels of the

OKC has already beaten the Pelicans once this season, 137-106 in the last meeting on Nov. 2. SGA scored 30 points while Zion Williamson, listed as Day-to-Day for Monday’s matchup, scored 20 to lead the way for New Orleans.

The Thunder and the Pelicans are set to play each other in the upcoming NBA 2025-26 season game. Here is all about the schedule, date, time, live stream, and more.