The Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets are heading into Saturday night’s contest with vastly different trajectories.
Thunder’s Hot Streak
The Thunder have been on fire, winning four consecutive games since their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup championship. Their latest victory came with a strong second-half performance, overcoming Indiana 120-114 on Thursday, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s career-high-tying 45 points. Gilgeous-Alexander scored nine of those points in the final minute, including a clutch 3-pointer. He has led the Thunder in scoring in seven of their last eight games, including back-to-back 40-plus-point performances, bringing his scoring average to 31.1 points per game, ranking second in the league.
Hornets’ Struggles
In stark contrast, the Charlotte Hornets have lost six consecutive games and 14 of their last 15. Their latest defeat was a 113-110 loss to the Washington Wizards on Thursday. Either Miles Bridges or LaMelo Ball has been the top scorer for Charlotte in four of the last five games. Ball, who recently returned from injury, has surpassed the 30-point mark twice.
The Hornets are slowly regaining some of their post presence with Mark Williams and Nick Richards both in action. Bridges has been leading the team in rebounds in three of the past five games. Williams, who missed October and November due to injury, has played in eight games since his return, all losses. His 16-point performance on 8-for-11 shooting in 26 minutes against Washington is a positive sign. However, Richards’ role has been limited, playing no more than 17 minutes in five of his last six outings.
Swingman Brandon Miller appears to be back in the regular rotation, scoring 18 points in 36 minutes against Washington. However, he has struggled with consistency, shooting a combined 9-for-34 on 3-pointers in his last three games.
Defensive Standouts
Oklahoma City’s defense has been impressive, with four of their last six opponents failing to reach the 100-point mark. In contrast, the Hornets have scored more than 110 points only once in their last six games.
Key Matchup
The game will be a test of the Thunder’s high-flying offense and solid defense against a Hornets team looking to break their losing streak and find some consistency.
Will the Thunder continue their winning ways, or can the Hornets turn things around? Tune in for an exciting clash on Saturday night!
