The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to face the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday in their first matchup of the season. This game marks the beginning of a brief two-game road trip for the Thunder, who currently hold an impressive 12-1 record and have won their last four games convincingly.
The Thunder recently delivered a strong message to the league with back-to-back dominant performances. They decisively defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 121-92 on Wednesday, with star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge with 30 points and nine assists in just three quarters of play.
On the other hand, the Charlotte Hornets enter this game with a 4-8 record, facing the challenge of a back-and-forth schedule. They are coming off a high-scoring 147-134 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday during the 2025 NBA Cup group play. Notably, both Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges shined in that contest, each contributing 32 points to the Hornets’ effort.
As the Thunder prepare for this matchup, they will be dealing with some injuries on their roster. Jalen Williams is out following wrist surgery, and Aaron Wiggins is sidelined due to an adductor strain. Lu Dort is listed as questionable with an upper trap strain, while Kenrich Williams, Nikola Topic, and Thomas Sorber are also unavailable due to various injuries.
The Hornets, meanwhile, have yet to release their official injury report, but they will certainly be without Brandon Miller, who is dealing with a shoulder subluxation.
With a tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m. CT in Charlotte, both teams are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting contest. The Thunder will be looking to extend their winning streak, while the Hornets will aim to bounce back from their recent setback.