Thunder @ Pelicans

Who will WIN this matchup?

Oklahoma City Thunder (17-8)

@ New Orleans Pelicans (14-15)

Current odds:

Oklahoma City Thunder: (-125)

New Orleans Pelicans: (+105)

• The line for this game is Thunder by 1.5 points.

• The Oklahoma City Thunder own the best winning percentage in the Western Conference after recovering from a 0-4 start. The Thunder look to post their 18th win in the past 22 games when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. Oklahoma City star point guard Russell Westbrook has only been the second-best player on his own team thus far as small forward Paul George has been superb, the latest example being a 31-point outing in a 122-113 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday despite having just 10 field-goal attempts.

• New Orleans has its own star in power forward Anthony Davis and he scored 41 points on Monday but the Pelicans dropped a 113-100 decision to the Boston Celtics. “We got another one on Wednesday against a team that’s hot right now, OKC,” Davis told reporters. “But we play well at home so hopefully can get that one, then we have like three or four days off where we can regroup and recollect ourselves and try to put a string of wins together.”

• George was receiving MVP chants during his latest performance, which came two games after he scored a season-best 47 points against the Brooklyn Nets. “I’m going to just play hard,” George told reporters. “If that happens at the end of the year, then so be it. That’s the least of my concerns. Right now, I’m enjoying playing with this group. We’ve got a special group here. We want to win. We want to win big.” Westbrook recorded his third straight triple-double – and 110th of his career – against Utah with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists despite suffering through a 4-of-18 shooting night.

• Davis has recorded four 40-point efforts this season – all coming in the past 3 1/2 weeks – as he attempts to set the tone for a team that has battled consistency issues this season. “I know the team follows me,” Davis told reporters. “I’m the leader and I’ve got to be the one to make sure that we’re ready to play every night. So for me, I just go out there and play with this team and go out there and try to have fun and get wins.” Forward Julius Randle had 20 points and 11 rebounds against Boston and is averaging 27.6 points and 11.2 rebounds over the past five games.

• The Thunder recorded a 122-116 home win over the Pelicans on Nov. 5, when they limited Davis (20 points) to 7-of-20 shooting.

• Oklahoma City C Steven Adams topped 20 points in three of the past four games and is averaging 19.8 points during the stretch.

• New Orleans F Nikola Mirotic (ankle) is doubtful after being injured in Monday’s game, while SG E’Twaun Moore (leg) will likely miss his second straight game.