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The Oklahoma City Thunder (52-25) will try to snap a three-game losing streak when they visit the Charlotte Hornets (19-58) on Sunday afternoon.
Thunder’s Struggles:
- Oklahoma City has lost its last three games and five of its last eight.
- The skid comes without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30.3 ppg) and Jalen Williams (19.5 ppg) who are out with injuries.
- Gilgeous-Alexander has missed five of the last six games due to a quad contusion, while Williams is out with a sprained ankle.
- Williams is questionable for Sunday, but Gilgeous-Alexander has already been ruled out.
Hornets Look to Build on Win:
- Charlotte is coming off a 124-115 home win over the Orlando Magic on Friday.
- Brandon Miller exploded for 32 points on 11-of-13 shooting, including a perfect 10-for-10 performance in the first half.
Matchup History:
- This is the second and final meeting between the two teams this season.
- The Thunder won the first matchup 126-106 in February with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way with 31 points.
Injuries:
- The Thunder will again be without Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
- The Hornets will be missing LaMelo Ball (out for season), Nick Richards, Seth Curry, Mark Williams, Cody Martin, and Leaky Black.
Key Stat:
- Oklahoma City is at the bottom of the Western Conference in rebounding, averaging just 41.7 rebounds per game.
- Charlotte is shooting slightly better (45.9%) from the field than what the Thunder defense allows (45.8%).
Outlook:
The Thunder will be shorthanded again but will look to get back on track against a Charlotte team that’s out of the playoff race. The Hornets will try to build on their win but could struggle against Oklahoma City’s defense despite missing some key players themselves.
Prediction:
Prediction: Hornets 114 – Thunder 109
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