Thunder's Historic Pace Halted by Stunning Home Loss to Hornets
The talk of a historic regular season for the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder has been silenced. Following a scorching 24-1 start to the campaign, the Thunder have cooled significantly, going 6-5 in their last 11 games. Any lingering hopes of chasing a 73-win record were emphatically extinguished on Monday night with a stunning 124-97 home defeat to the 12-23 Charlotte Hornets, dropping Oklahoma City to 30-7.
The loss, arguably the most shocking result of the NBA season, saw the Hornets dominate after a competitive first quarter. Charlotte erupted for a 34-17 second-quarter run to take a commanding 67-50 halftime lead and never relinquished control.
"From the get, it just seemed like they were ahead of us on both ends of the floor, offensively and defensively," admitted Thunder MVP guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
A Cause for Concern?
The defeat marks Oklahoma City's second consecutive loss and its sixth in the past 12 games, including three losses to the San Antonio Spurs. While a .500 stretch and an isolated poor performance are not cause for panic for the league's title favorites, the Thunder appear far more vulnerable now than during their blistering opening run.
Hornets Dominate in Every Phase
Charlotte comprehensively outplayed the Thunder on both ends. They shot a remarkable 53% from the field compared to OKC's 37%, and connected on 51% of their three-point attempts against the Thunder's 28%. The Hornets also commanded a decisive 52-34 rebounding advantage and tallied 25 assists on 41 made baskets, showcasing superior ball movement.
Oklahoma City's sole statistical edge came from forcing 20 turnovers while committing only eight. However, their typically disruptive defense was rendered ineffective by a Hornets team that shot with exceptional efficiency whenever they secured possession.
Key Performances
The Thunder were without starting center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) and guard Alex Caruso, but otherwise fielded their core lineup. Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 21 points but was inefficient, shooting 7-of-21. Chet Holmgren added 15 points and Jalen Williams scored 16.
For Charlotte, Brandon Miller starred with 28 points, including 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Rookie Kon Knueppel was equally potent, hitting 5-of-7 threes for 23 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 16 points.
The Hornets will look to carry this momentum into a home game against the Toronto Raptors. The Thunder, meanwhile, must regroup quickly for a Wednesday night matchup against the Utah Jazz as they seek to rediscover their early-season form.
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