Oklahoma City’s preseason opener in Tulsa didn’t end with a win, but it did give the Thunder’s rookies a real stage to work with.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso and others sitting out, Oklahoma City leaned on its newest wave of talent in a 116-110 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, Oct. 6. And several of those young players answered the call.
Six rookies saw the floor for the Thunder, and the night produced a mixed bag. Second-round pick Otega Oweh and undrafted free agent Andrew Holifield had rougher first runs in preseason play, while the rest of Oklahoma City’s first-year group gave the team plenty to take from the opener.
Oweh finished with six points, six rebounds, an assist, two turnovers, two steals and a block in 28 minutes off the bench. He shot 3-of-9 from the field, missed both of his 3-point attempts and went 0-of-4 at the line.
Holifield played seven minutes and scored four points, going 1-of-4 from the field, 0-of-2 from deep and 2-of-2 on free throws.
The other four Thunder rookies turned in stronger debuts.
The undrafted free agent and two-way signee posted 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and two turnovers in 30 minutes off the bench, hitting 4-of-7 shots and 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
The No. 12 pick in the 2026 draft got the start and delivered 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two turnovers and three blocks in 18 minutes. He was perfect from the field at 5-of-5 and also made both of his free throws.
The No. 16 pick also started and led Oklahoma City with 15 points, adding six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers in 31 minutes. He shot 6-of-9 overall and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Stirtz left late in the fourth quarter with an injury and did not return.
Another undrafted free agent came off the bench to score nine points, grab four rebounds, dish two assists and record three turnovers and a block. He shot 4-of-7 from the field and 1-of-2 from the free throw line in 25 minutes.
New Orleans got its only rookie minutes from second-round pick Jaron Pierre Jr., who finished with three points, four rebounds, three assists, a turnover and a block while shooting 1-of-4 from the field and 1-of-2 from 3-point range in 12 minutes off the bench.
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Jahmal Mosleys first look at the Pelicans came with enough encouraging signs to make the preseason opener feel worthwhile, even in a game that was more about process than result. New Orleans knocked off Oklahoma City 116-110, and the mix of starters and bench players gave the new staff a chance to see how the pieces fit, with the reserve group helping fuel a pivotal run that shifted the games tone.
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Zion Williamson Just Gave Pelicans Fans A Real Reason For Optimism
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Jamahl Mosley also kept the focus on the bigger picture, pointing to accountability and defensive responsibilities as the standard the Pelicans need to build around. For a team trying to establish consistency, that combination of Zion looking physically ready and the coaching staff demanding sharper habits is exactly the sort of early sign New Orleans was hoping to see. [Read more 🡒]