Hornets Hand Thunder Historic Blowout (124-97)
Jan 5, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) reacts after a play against the Charlotte Hornets during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
A Hot Start Followed by an Offensive Explosion
Charlotte took control from the opening tip with a 12-0 run by the Miller-Knueppel duo to quickly lead 21-9. Oklahoma City attempted to respond thanks to Ajay Mitchell, who scored 10 points in the first quarter, allowing his team to tie it at 33-33 at the end of the first period.
But it was in the second quarter that the Hornets made the difference. Charlotte posted an impressive 34-17 run in that period, carried by Brandon Miller who already had 19 points at halftime. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to find his rhythm with only 9 points on 3-of-12 shooting, symbolizing the Thunder’s offensive difficulties.
The knockout blow came at the start of the third quarter with LaMelo Ball’s incredible shot. The point guard hit a 3-pointer on one leg while trying to prevent the ball from going out of bounds, extending the lead to 74-55. Brandon Miller then sealed it with a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to push the gap to 99-71.
Deadly Accuracy Against a Depleted Thunder
The statistics speak for themselves: Charlotte finished at 53% from the field and a remarkable 51% from 3-point range (19-of-37), with Brandon Miller (28 points, 7-of-10 from deep) orchestrating the attack. Kon Knueppel contributed 23 points on 5-of-7 from three, while Miles Bridges added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Special mention to Moussa Diabate, who grabbed 12 rebounds including 6 offensive boards.
Conversely, Oklahoma City endured a nightmare performance with only 37% shooting and 28% from 3-point range. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, despite his 21 points extending his streak to 108 consecutive games with at least 20 points, converted just 7 shots on 21 attempts.
This defeat marks a turning point for the Thunder, who now post a record of 6 wins and 6 losses since the NBA Cup, far from their blistering pace early in the season. For Charlotte, this victory confirms the team’s offensive potential when Miller and Ball are having big nights.
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