Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets, NBA 2024-25 Season, Today Match Prediction

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets Basteball Odds

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Oklahoma City Thunder

With a 57-12 record, the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently 1st in the Northwest division and 1st in the Western Conference. They are coming off a 133-100 win over the injury-depleted Philadelphia 76ers, on a night where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and three other starters were sidelined for the Thunder. Oklahoma City went on a 33-14 run to stretch its lead to 29 points by the end of their third quarter.

Jaylin Williams scored a career-high 19 points and had 17 rebounds and 11 assists for his second career triple-double. Aaron Wiggins scored 26 points, Isaiah Joe added 21 points and Chet Holmgren scored 19 for the Western Conference-leading Thunder, who clinched the Northwest Division title.

Offensively, the Oklahoma City Thunder average 119.8 points per game and their two-point field goal percentage is strong, showing their ability to score inside effectively and have an average of 48.0% field goals. Their efficiency from the three-point range at around 36.8%. Their emphasis on ball movement is evident in their 26.8 assists per game and they convert 82.2% from the free throw line. Defensively, the Thunder are solid in protecting the rim, allowing opponents 107 points per game. They average 5.7 blocks and 11.2 steals per game but their rebounding which is at 44.9 could see some improvement.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s top scorer at 33.0 points per game and a leading MVP candidate will be expected to lead the team on offense. Injury- Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topic, Jalen Williams, Alex Ducas, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Ousmane Dieng, Isaiah Hartenstein, Cason Wallace.

Charlotte Hornets

With a record of 15-48, the Charlotte Hornets are currently 4th in the Southeast division and 14th in the Eastern Conference. They are coming off a 102-134 loss against the Atlanta Hawks in their recent outing, losing all four game season series against the Hawks. The Hornets lost their seventh game in the past ten matches.

Their challenges on both offense and defense have made it difficult for them to compete against elite teams. DaQuan Jeffries and Seth Curry each had 19 points for Charlotte, which played without LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. Offensively, the Hornets have been averaging 105.7 points per game with a 33.8% three-point shooting efficiency but ranks amongst the lowest in field goal percentage (42.8%). They manage to convert 78.4% from the free throw line.

Defensively, the Hornets average 4.7 blocks and 7.8 steals per game and have struggled against quicker offenses, leading to a higher opponent scoring, averaging 113.7 points per game. With a rebounding average of 45.4 per game and 24.3 assists, the team needs to focus on improving ball movement and increasing their rebounding efforts to create second-chance opportunities. LaMelo Ball has been the Hornets main scorer and has scored 24 or more points in the past two matches. He is expected to lead the team's offense.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets Starting Lineups

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets Match Prediction & Analysis

With a deeper roster and more consistent performances, the Thunder are likely to exploit the Hornet’s defensive lapses. While the Hornets might attempt to disrupt the Thunder’s rhythm by introducing a slower pace and focusing on half-court sets. They could also aim to create open looks from the perimeter, but overcoming the Thunder’s defensive intensity will be challenging.

The two teams have met once so far, where the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Charlotte Hornets 106-94, giving the Thunder a 1-0 advantage in the season’s head-to-head series. The Thunder won four of their last five home games, where they scored 126.2 points on average. While the Hornets have lost three of their past five road games, averaging 108.8 points.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets Player Stats

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs CHARLOTTE HORNETS
Winning Prediction

Based on current form and season records, the Oklahoma City Thunder are strong favourites to secure another win. Their blend of experience, momentum and tactical flexibility should prove too much for the Struggling Hornets.

Oklahoma City Thunder to Win!

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