Team
(Michael Gonzales | NBAE via Getty Images)

Preview: Thunder at Hornets

By Paris Lawson | Broadcast and Digital Reporter | okcthunder.com

TIP-OFF: 6 p.m. CST

TV: Bally Sports Oklahoma

RADIO: WWLS 98.1 FM OKC

The Thunder departs from the Alamo and sets out to the Eastern Conference for the final two games of its four-game road trip. The Queen City marks the first stop on OKC’s back-to-back to take on the Hornets for the first time this season. 

Game Day: OKC at CHA

WHAT TO WATCH

  • Points in the Paint – All season long, the mantra for the Thunder offense has been to play through the paint. On Friday, they’ll face a team in Charlotte who looks to play a similar style. The Hornets average 49.2 paint points per game which ranks fourth in the league. Keep an eye on how the Thunder works to win the point of attack against Charlotte’s paint-hunting perimeter players to limit easy touches in the lane. 
  • Young Talent – Expect production from a host of young talent between these two teams. While the Thunder holds the youngest roster in the league, Charlotte is the sixth youngest. Twenty-year-old Lonzo Ball headlines the Hornets’ young contingent as he holds all three of the team’s triple doubles this season. Meanwhile, the Thunder’s roster is chock full of young, budding talent including Josh Giddey who is the youngest player ever to record a triple-double in NBA history. In the Thunder’s last game against San Antonio, it was rookie Aaron Wiggins who led the Thunder in scoring with 19 points on 8-of-11 from the field. 
  • Controlling the Tempo – For the Thunder, controlling the pace of the game will be critical as Charlotte’s fast-paced offense results in the second most points per game (114) in the league as well as the third most fast break points each night with 15. Limiting fast break points starts on the offensive end with the ability to limit turnovers and generate high-quality looks in each possession that take away run-out opportunities for the Hornets.
(Michael Gonzales | NBAE via Getty Images)

NOTABLE

The Thunder’s previous four contests in the Queen City have been fruitful as the Thunder holds a four-game winning streak over the Hornets when playing in Spectrum Center. Of those four contests, three of them came down to the wire as the games were decided by four points or less. 

QUOTABLE

(Zach Beeker | OKC Thunder)

SCOUTING REPORT

The Hornets enter into its matchup against the Thunder with a 25-20 record and currently sit at seventh in the Eastern Conference. The team is 7-3 over their last 10 games including a 111-102 win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. The young Hornets squad holds the sixth youngest roster in the league headlined by 20-year-old LaMelo Ball who notched his fourth career triple double on Wednesday against the Celtics with 15 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Charlotte’s leading scorer against Boston was Terry Rozier who poured in 28 points as Miles Bridges chipped in 22 of his own.