Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: Bally 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 put up a fight against the Memphis Grizzlies in front of a packed house last night, but they fell short, dropping their 5th consecutive game and 9th straight home loss. The Thunder gets another shot at some action tonight as they host the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets are led by the reigning Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball, who is averaging 19.6 points, 7.3 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game. Ball is not the most efficient shooter, but he’s an incredible distributor with great court vision, so he’s extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands.
As a team, the Hornets have struggled their way to a 33-35 record, but they are on pace to finish with their best record since 2016, when they last made the playoffs. As it currently stands, Charlotte is three games ahead of the Washington Wizards for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, but they are just two games back of the Brooklyn Nets, who are in 7th place.
We are now at the point in the season where games seem to matter more for those teams looking to push for an improved spot in the standings, but for the Oklahoma City Thunder, they are basically eliminated from playoff contention. Still, OKC has managed to stay competitive for the most part, despite a lengthy injury list, and with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor, there is no telling what this team is capable of.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Tre Mann
- SF: Lindy Waters III
- PF: Darius Bazley
- C: Isaiah Roby
Hornets
- PG: LaMelo Ball
- SG: Terry Rozier
- SF: Miles Bridges
- PF: P.J. Washington
- C: Mason Plumlee
Injuries
Thunder
- Luguentz Dort is OUT (strained left shoulder).
- Derrick Favors is OUT (lower back soreness).
- Josh Giddey is OUT (right hip soreness).
- Ty Jerome is OUT (left hip soreness).
- Mike Muscala is OUT (right ankle soreness).
- Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is OUT (third metatarsal fracture in right foot).
- Aaron Wiggins is OUT (non-covid illness).
- Kenrich Williams is OUT (sprained right knee).
Hornets
- James Bouknight is OUT (neck soreness).
- Gordon Hayward is OUT (sprained left ankle).
- Kai Jones is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- Arnoldas Kulboka is OUT (G League — two way).
- Scottie Lewis is OUT (G League — two way).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 18-7 against the Hornets (9-3 at home, 9-4 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 5 times.
- The Thunder tied the season series with the Hornets last season (0-1 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- The Thunder is 0-1 against the Hornets so far this season (0-0 at home, 0-1 on the road).