Pelicans’ playoff odds take big hit after loss to Warriors, coupled with OKC win

On the day the NBA learned that Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, the reigning league MVP, would not play for the remainder of the regular season, the New Orleans Pelicans saw their playoff chances take a big hit.

Led by another Russell Westbrook triple-double, the Thunder won at home against the Eastern Conference-pace setting Atlanta Hawks, 123-115 while the Pelicans were humbled by the best team in the West, the Golden State Warriors 112-96.

As a result, the Pelicans found themselves ninth in the conference, two full games behind the Thunder for the eighth spot, and their chances of making the NBA’s version of the big dance diminished by 10 percent over the day before.

According to the latest numbers at PlayoffStatus.com, the Pelicans now have an 80 percent chance of missing out on the playoffs and just a 20 percent chance of securing the eighth spot.

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