NEW ORLEANS -- - Rookie center Branden Carlson scored a season-high 26 points to go with 10 rebounds and three blocked three shots, and the Oklahoma City Thunder wrapped up the best regular season in franchise history with a 115-100 victory over the injury-depleted New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

Aaron Wiggins scored a game-high 28 points and Kenrich Williams had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder (68-14), who never trailed and led by as many as 23 points despite resting all of their usual starters.

Dillon Jones added 13 points and 10 rebounds in just his third start this season and Isaiah Joe scored 17 for Oklahoma City, which won its last five regular-season games and 16 of its last 17.

Rookie Antonio Reeves scored 20 points, Jamal Cain added 18 and Lester Quinones 17 for the Pelicans, who had just eight available players as they closed out the season on a seven-game skid.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl had 10 points and 16 rebounds, and his 3-pointer briefly pulled the Pelicans as close as six at 71-65 before the Thunder pulled away again.

Takeaways

Thunder: Even with all of its usual starters held out for rest, Oklahoma City was able to build a 20-point lead in the first quarter.

Pelicans: New Orleans' final record of 21-61 is the second worst in franchise history and worst since the 2004-05 team went 18-64.

Key moment

Kenrich Williams, Carlson and Jones each hit 3s during a 9-0 run that gave the Thunder an 84-67 lead, and Oklahoma City led comfortably from then on.

Key stat

The Thunder outrebounded the Pelicans 54-47 and turned 17 offensive rebounds into 21 second-chance points.

Up next

After posting the best record in the NBA this season, Oklahoma City opens the first round of the playoffs at home against the team that wins the No. 8 seed in this week's Western Conference play-in tournament. The Pelicans begin what could be an offseason of upheaval after their worst season since team owner Gayle Benson's late husband, Tom, bought the club in 2012. ------

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Jaylin Williams vs. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Dillon Jones gains possession)	0	0
11:47	Aaron Wiggins misses 7-foot two point shot	0	0
11:44	Isaiah Joe offensive rebound	0	0
11:37	Jaylin Williams misses 6-foot two point shot	0	0
11:34	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl defensive rebound	0	0
11:24	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl bad pass (Kenrich Williams steals)	0	0
11:19	Aaron Wiggins makes two point shot (Kenrich Williams assists)	0	2
11:01	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl misses 11-foot jumper	0	2
10:58	Jaylin Williams defensive rebound	0	2
10:49	Elfrid Payton blocks Dillon Jones's two point shot	0	2
10:48	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl defensive rebound	0	2
10:44	Jose Alvarado lost ball turnover (Isaiah Joe steals)	0	2
10:40	Isaiah Joe makes 25-foot running pullup jump shot	0	5
10:28	Antonio Reeves makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot	2	5
10:18	Aaron Wiggins makes 2-foot two point shot	2	7
10:18	Keion Brooks Jr. defensive goaltending violation	2	7
10:08	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl misses 25-foot three point jumper	2	7
10:04	Dillon Jones defensive rebound	2	7
9:57	Dillon Jones makes driving layup	2	9
9:49	Elfrid Payton misses driving floating jump shot	2	9
9:45	Jaylin Williams defensive rebound	2	9
9:44	Dillon Jones makes two point shot (Aaron Wiggins assists)	2	11
9:44	Pelicans Full timeout	2	11
9:44	Branden Carlson enters the game for Jaylin Williams	2	11
9:29	Antonio Reeves makes 1-foot layup (Jose Alvarado assists)	4	11
9:11	Kenrich Williams misses 19-foot pullup jump shot	4	11
9:07	Keion Brooks Jr. defensive rebound	4	11
8:56	Keion Brooks Jr. misses 23-foot three point jumper	4	11
8:52	Kenrich Williams defensive rebound	4	11
8:39	Dillon Jones misses two point shot	4	11
8:37	Branden Carlson offensive rebound	4	11
8:37	Branden Carlson makes two point shot	4	13
8:20	Keion Brooks Jr. makes dunk (Elfrid Payton assists)	6	13
8:10	Aaron Wiggins makes 26-foot three pointer	6	16
7:53	Antonio Reeves misses 25-foot three point jumper	6	16
7:52	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl offensive rebound	6	16
7:52	Isaiah Joe shooting foul	6	16
7:52	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl misses free throw 1 of 2	6	16
7:52	Pelicans offensive team rebound	6	16
7:52	Adam Flagler enters the game for Aaron Wiggins	6	16
7:52	Jeremiah Robinson-Earl makes free throw 2 of 2	7	16
7:39	Adam Flagler makes 2-foot layup (Branden Carlson assists)	7	18
7:27	Branden Carlson blocks Elfrid Payton 's 7-foot driving floating jump shot	7	18
7:25	Elfrid Payton offensive rebound	7	18
7:15	Keion Brooks Jr. misses 7-foot two point shot	7	18
7:14	Dillon Jones defensive rebound	7	18
7:14	Dillon Jones out of bounds lost ball turnover	7	18
7:14	Jamal Cain enters the game for Elfrid Payton	7	18
7:01	Antonio Reeves misses 25-foot three point jumper	7	18
6:58	Branden Carlson defensive rebound	7	18
6:49	Kenrich Williams makes driving layup	7	20
6:37	Jose Alvarado bad pass (Kenrich Williams steals)	7	20
6:33	Kenrich Williams makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot	7	22
6:33	Antonio Reeves shooting foul	7	22
6:33	Kylor Kelley enters the game for Jeremiah Robinson-Earl	7	22
6:33	Kenrich Williams misses free throw 1 of 1	7	22
6:30	Kylor Kelley defensive rebound	7	22
6:23	Antonio Reeves makes 2-foot layup (Jose Alvarado assists)	9	22
6:12	Branden Carlson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dillon Jones assists)	9	25
5:59	Jose Alvarado misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	9	25
5:56	Dillon Jones defensive rebound	9	25
5:51	Kylor Kelley blocks Isaiah Joe 's 3-foot two point shot	9	25
5:49	Jamal Cain defensive rebound	9	25
5:43	Jamal Cain misses two point shot	9	25
5:40	Branden Carlson defensive rebound	9	25
5:40	Branden Carlson lost ball turnover (Keion Brooks Jr. steals)	9	25
5:33	Keion Brooks Jr. makes 1-foot two point shot	11	25
5:23	Kenrich Williams makes 7-foot jumper	11	27
5:01	Keion Brooks Jr. traveling	11	27
5:01	Lester Quinones enters the game for Jose Alvarado	11	27
5:01	Alex Ducas enters the game for Kenrich Williams	11	27
4:47	Branden Carlson offensive foul	11	27
4:47	Branden Carlson turnover	11	27
4:32	Lester Quinones misses driving floating jump shot	11	27
4:29	Dillon Jones defensive rebound	11	27
4:23	Keion Brooks Jr. shooting foul	11	27
4:23	Branden Carlson makes free throw 1 of 2	11	28
4:23	Branden Carlson makes free throw 2 of 2	11	29
4:02	Isaiah Joe personal foul	11	29
4:02	Aaron Wiggins enters the game for Isaiah Joe	11	29
3:53	Jamal Cain misses 10-foot two point shot	11	29
3:49	Dillon Jones defensive rebound	11	29
3:38	Branden Carlson makes 5-foot two point shot (Aaron Wiggins assists)	11	31
3:26	Lester Quinones misses 29-foot three point jumper	11	31
3:23	Jamal Cain offensive rebound	11	31
3:21	Jamal Cain makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot	13	31
3:15	Thunder Full timeout	13	31
3:15	Jose Alvarado enters the game for Antonio Reeves	13	31
3:07	Alex Ducas misses 25-foot three point jumper	13	31
3:04	Lester Quinones defensive rebound	13	31
2:49	Jose Alvarado misses 26-foot three point jumper	13	31
2:46	Dillon Jones defensive rebound	13	31
2:41	Adam Flagler misses running pullup jump shot	13	31
2:38	Lester Quinones defensive rebound	13	31
2:26	Alex Ducas shooting foul	13	31
2:26	Kylor Kelley misses free throw 1 of 2	13	31
2:26	Pelicans offensive team rebound	13	31
2:26	Kenrich Williams enters the game for Branden Carlson	13	31
2:26	Kylor Kelley makes free throw 2 of 2	14	31
2:13	Jamal Cain shooting foul	14	31
2:13	Aaron Wiggins makes free throw 1 of 2	14	32
2:13	Aaron Wiggins makes free throw 2 of 2	14	33
1:58	Kylor Kelley makes layup (Jamal Cain assists)	16	33
1:49	Kenrich Williams misses 29-foot three point jumper	16	33
1:47	Pelicans defensive team rebound	16	33
1:38	Jamal Cain misses 25-foot three point jumper	16	33
1:35	Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound	16	33
1:20	Kenrich Williams misses 23-foot three point jumper	16	33
1:16	Aaron Wiggins offensive rebound	16	33
1:14	Alex Ducas makes 26-foot three point jumper (Aaron Wiggins assists)	16	36
51.0	Jamal Cain misses driving layup	16	36
48.2	Aaron Wiggins defensive rebound	16	36
42.2	Aaron Wiggins misses 26-foot three point jumper	16	36
39.1	Kylor Kelley defensive rebound	16	36
31.1	Jose Alvarado misses 29-foot three point jumper	16	36
28.1	Alex Ducas defensive rebound	16	36
23.1	Dillon Jones makes layup	16	38
0.0	Jamal Cain makes 26-foot three point jumper (Lester Quinones assists)	19	38
0.0	(00:00) [Thunder] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (REPLAY SUPPORTS CALL)	19	38
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	19	38

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Smoothie King Center

New Orleans, LA

Date & Time

7:30 PM, April 13, 2025

Coverage

GCSEN, FanDuel SN OK

Attendance

17,761

Referees

Kevin Cutler, Matt Myers, Mousa Dagher

2025-26 Northwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Oklahoma City	46	15	.754	W1
Denver	37	23	.617	L1
Minnesota	37	23	.617	W2
Portland	29	32	.475	L1
Utah	18	42	.300	L5

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
San Antonio	43	16	.729	W11
Houston	37	22	.627	L1
Memphis	22	36	.379	W1
Dallas	21	38	.356	L2
New Orleans	19	42	.311	W4

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Wiggins and Carlson lift Thunder past Pelicans 115-100 in regular-season finale

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