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Sue Ogrocki / AP
New Orleans Pelicans center Steven Adams, left, rebounds off Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City. .
New Zealander Steven Adams must have been satisfied with this victory over his old teammates in the Oklahoma Thunder.
Adams scored 12 points and secured 10 rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Thunder 113-80 in their NBA game at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday afternoon (New Zealand time).
Sue Ogrocki / AP
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots on New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in Oklahoma City . (AP Photo / Sue Ogrocki)
It was the first time Adams had returned to Oklahoma to play since leaving the Thunder, who were committed to rebuilding their roster, during the offseason.
Although the popular center was unable to display his skills in front of Thunder fans because the stadium was empty due to Covid-19, it seems unlikely that he would have been envied for this opportunity to get one on his former teammates.
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Adams, who was selected 12th by the Thunder in 2013 and in 7 seasons played 530 games with 466 starts, played 24 minutes and 33 seconds in a busy performance.
Brandon Ingram scored 20 points and 7 rebounds for the Pelicans before being ejected in the third quarter.
Eric Bledsoe added 17 points and Lonzo Ball had 16 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds for New Orleans, which lost its 4 games last season to the Thunder. But in their first meeting this season, the Pelicans built an 11-point halftime lead and were never seriously threatened after that.
Oklahoma City, which lost its third straight game _ all at home _ after winning its first game of the season at Charlotte, had won 10 of its previous 12 games on New Year’s Eve.
Al Horford led the Thunder with 17 points and 6 rebounds.
The Pelicans led 77-67 with 3 minutes left in the third quarter when Bledsoe’s arm caught Isaiah Roby in the face as Roby looked for a layup on a fast break.
Officials ruled it a flagrant foul and sent Ingram off, but Roby missed both free throws and Oklahoma City was no closer than seven points the rest of the quarter.
The Pelicans extended their lead to 85-73 entering the fourth quarter and continued to pull away, eventually leading as many as 33 points as they matched their season record in scoring.
