New Orleans Pelicans meet the Oklahoma City Thunder Watch FREE ONLINE: Live Streaming NBA Game Tonight From Chesapeake Energy Arena Friday, at 8:00 PM ET

After getting all of their starters back, the Thunder aided their chances of holding on to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a victory over their closest pursuer.

They will try to move a step closer to clinching that spot Friday night by winning the first of two matchups in four days with the depleted Pelicans, who won't have All-Star forward Anthony Davis for the rest of the season.

The Thunder can move three games ahead of the idle Clippers with three left for both teams with a 10th consecutive win and 14th in 15 matchups with the eliminated Pelicans (32-46). Oklahoma City would have clinched the No. 2 seed with a victory Friday if it hadn't split the season series with the Clippers.

The Thunder are one-half game ahead in the second tiebreaker, conference record, as Oklahoma City is 35-15 and Los Angeles is 34-15.

While the Clippers have three games left against West opponents, the Thunder have two versus the same team. They'll play at New Orleans on Monday after visiting East-leading Indiana the day before.

The Pelicans, losers of six in a row and four straight on road, announced Thursday that Davis will miss the final four games because of an ailing back and Eric Gordon will undergo left knee surgery next week.

Davis, named to his first All-Star team this season, was averaging 20.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and an NBA-best 2.8 blocks. Gordon, averaging 15.4 points, hasn't played since March 21.

Durant had one of his six career triple-doubles in the most recent visit from New Orleans, a 119-74 rout Feb. 27, 2013, with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Westbrook scored 29.

The game will live stream online at www.nbalivestreamfree.net