In a commanding performance, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured their 10th consecutive regular-season victory by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 106-94. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 22 points, while Jalen Williams contributed 20 points. The Thunder's offense was further bolstered by Aaron Wiggins, who scored 17 points, and Isaiah Hartenstein, who not only scored 12 points but also grabbed 15 rebounds. The Thunder maintained control throughout the game, never trailing at any point.
The Hornets struggled significantly, managing to score only 94 points, with Miles Bridges leading their efforts with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Vasa Micic also added 16 points, but the team has now lost 15 of their last 16 games. Both teams were missing key players; Charlotte was without LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, while the Thunder missed Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace.
The Thunder established a solid 61-46 lead by halftime, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Wiggins combining for 26 points on efficient shooting. They extended their lead to 20 points in the third quarter, and despite Charlotte's attempts to rally, the Thunder's defense and scoring kept them at bay. The Hornets briefly narrowed the gap to 11 points in the fourth quarter, but a layup from Kenrich Williams effectively ended their comeback aspirations.
Looking ahead, the Thunder will face the Memphis Grizzlies in a back-to-back matchup, while the Hornets will host the Chicago Bulls in their next game.
