Thunder Look to Extend Win Streak Against Struggling Hornets
The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Charlotte Hornets Friday night at the Paycom Center, with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. ET as the Western Conference leaders aim to keep their impressive run going.
MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to return to the lineup after sitting out OKC’s last game – a dominant 33-point blowout win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Even without their superstar guard, the Thunder showed their depth by crushing the Sixers.
The betting odds reflect the massive gap between these teams, with Oklahoma City favored by a whopping 19.5 points.
Fans can catch the action locally on FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma or FanDuel Sports Network South East for viewers in North Carolina. Those without cable access can stream the game free on Jazz Sports.
The Thunder continue to make their case as the NBA’s best team despite dealing with several key injuries. Starters Jalen Williams and Lu Dort remain sidelined, along with several role players.
Charlotte enters this matchup coming off a surprising victory against the New York Knicks on Thursday. The Hornets jumped to an early lead against a Knicks team struggling without Jalen Brunson and managed to hold on for the win.
But beating the Thunder is a completely different challenge.
The Hornets are stuck near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, with only the Washington Wizards having a worse record this season. They haven’t defeated Oklahoma City since 2023.
Injury Report
Oklahoma City Thunder:
- Jalen Williams (hip; out)
- Lu Dort (hip; out)
- Ousmane Dieng (calf; out)
- Cason Wallace (shoulder; questionable)
- Ajay Mitchell (toe; out)
- Nikola Topic (knee; out for season)
Charlotte Hornets:
- Tidjane Salaun (ankle; out)
The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, where the home team will look to continue their dominance even with a depleted roster.
