<p>OKLAHOMA CITY — Zion Williamson scored 27 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 109-95 on Thursday night. </p>
<p>Williamson also had eight rebounds and six assists. Brandon Ingram added 24 points for New Orleans.</p>
<p>The Pelicans are in the hunt for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference and a berth in the play-in tournament. They had lost six of eight and were coming off a 114-112 loss to Denver on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Lu Dort scored 17 points, Theo Maledon added 16 and Moses Brown grabbed 18 rebounds for the Thunder. Oklahoma City was coming off a win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday that snapped a Thunder record-tying 14-game losing streak. </p>
<p>The Pelicans closed the first half on a 19-3 run to take a 60-43 lead. Williamson scored 16 points and Ingram added 15 in the first half to help New Orleans shoot 51%.</p>
<p>The Pelicans took a 79-68 lead into the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>New Orleans took full control in the early minutes of the fourth quarter. Jaxson Hayes’ fast-break dunk put the Pelicans up 90-73. The Thunder got no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Pelicans: Former Thunder center Steven Adams sat out with a sprained right foot. Willy Hernangomez took Adams’ place in the starting lineup and had 13 points and 10 rebounds … Won despite making just 5 of 29 3-pointers. </p>
<p>Thunder: Forward Gabriel Deck played for the first time since the Thunder signed him. He had two points, two assists and two rebounds in 15 minutes. … Guard Charlie Brown Jr. had two points and two rebounds in nine minutes. </p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Pelicans: Visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.</p>
<p>Thunder: Host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.</p>
<hr />
<p>Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CliffBruntAP">https://twitter.com/CliffBruntAP</a>.</p>
<hr />
<p>More AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NBA">https://apnews.com/hub/NBA</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Sports">https://twitter.com/AP_Sports</a>.</p>
