Preview 18 of 82: Hornets @ Thunder
Time: 7:00 PM CST
TV: FSOK
The Thunder (11-6) have returned to Oklahoma City for a four-game homestand — starting tonight against Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets (9-8). Fresh off Wednesday’s win over the Golden State Warriors, the Thunder have gone 8-2 over their last 10 games and are currently tied for third place in the Western Conference. The Hornets are just a game over .500, but currently lead the Eastern Conference’s southeast division by a half game.
Tip-off is at 7:00 P.M. CST and will be televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma. The Thunder are 6.5-point home favorites according to Odds Shark.
Injury Report
Thunder:
- Alex Abrines: Out — Illness
- Hamidou Diallo: Out — Ankle
- Terrance Ferguson: Out — Ankle
- Andre Roberson: Out — Knee
Hornets:
- Michael Kidd Gilchrist: Out — Ankle
Probable Starters
Thunder: TBA
Hornets: Kemba Walker, Jeramy Lamb, Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller
Statistics
General:
| Team | PF | PA | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHA | 115.7 | 110.3 | 44.4 | 24.7 | 7 | 5.8 | 12.9 | 46.2 | 36.7 |
| OKC | 111.8 | 105.6 | 48.3 | 21.8 | 11 | 5.5 | 14.3 | 45 | 31.6 |
Four Factors:
| Team | EFG | FTA | TOV% | OREB | OPP EFG | OPP FTA | OPP TO% | OPP OREB% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHA | 53.1 | 0.245 | 12.7 | 27.8 | 51.9 | 0.261 | 15.1 | 27.4 |
| OKC | 50.3 | 0.272 | 13.9 | 32.8 | 50.8 | 0.273 | 17.7 | 26.5 |
Previous Results
Nov. 1: OKC 111, CHA 107 [BOX SCORE]
What to Watch For
Musical Chairs. With Terrance Ferguson and Hamidou Diallo both out due to ankle sprains they suffered on Wednesday night, Billy Donovan will again be forced to alter his starting lineup. Alex Abrines is considered a game time decision as he continues to deal with a viral illness, so the most logical starter at shooting guard would be Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. The 23-year-old swingman has averaged just over 22 minutes per game over the last three, scoring in double-figures twice and shooting 36.4 percent from long range.
Slowing Kemba. The Hornets go as their All-Star point guard goes, so slowing Kemba Walker will be paramount for the Thunder. Walker is averaging 30 PPG over the last five games — including outbursts of 60 and 43 points over the last three. The Thunder held Walker to 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting on November 1 — a defensive effort that will need to be replicated.
Last Time Out. The Thunder escaped Charlotte with a narrow four-point win on November 1, due in large part to struggles by Steven Adams and Paul George. Adams scored five points on 1-of-5 shooting. George went 0-of-10 from long range en route to 11 total points in 39 minutes of action. They’ve both been playing well lately and will look to avenge their poor performances the last time out against Charlotte. As a team, OKC will try to improve on the 8-of-37 (21.6 percent) performance they suffered from downtown on November 1.
Nick Gallo’s game day report:
48 minutes a time.
Thunder prepares for back-to-back games at home. #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/flBD6uj0LW
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 23, 2018