Tip-Off: 6 PM CT
Location: Spectrum Center (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live-tweets and discussion during the game
The Oklahoma City Thunder were supposed to kickoff the 2020-21 NBA season on Wednesday on the road against the Houston Rockets, but, just like back in March, the game was postponed due to issues with COVID-19. Three days later, the Thunder finally gets to open up the season tonight as they take on the Charlotte Hornets on the road.
The Hornets dropped their opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, a 121-114 decision which featured a scoreless debut for rookie LaMelo Ball. Terry Rozier scored a career-high 42 points, however, so while the Hornets are not expected to be very good this season, they still have players capable of putting up big numbers.
Expectations for the Thunder are incredibly low this season: many analysts believe they will finish dead last in the Western Conference. Still, the goal for this young squad is not exactly winning so much as it is improvement and development.
Regardless of the win-loss record at the end of the season, this team has a lot of exciting youth that will undoubtedly keep fans interested.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: George Hill
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Darius Bazley
- C: Al Horford
Hornets
- PG: Terry Rozier
- SG: Devonte’ Graham
- SF: Gordon Hayward
- PF: PJ Washington
- C: Bismack Biyombo
Injuries
Thunder
- Trevor Ariza is OUT (not with team).
- Ty Jerome is OUT (sprained left ankle).
Hornets
- Grant Riller is OUT (left knee injury).
- Cody Zeller is OUT (fractured left hand).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 17-5 against the Hornets (9-2 at home, 8-3 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the regular season series against the Hornets 8 times, lost it once, and tied it 4 times.
- The Thunder won the season series with the Hornets 1-0 last season.
- The Thunder has won 4 matchups in a row against the Hornets, including 3 consecutive wins in Charlotte.