A 24-1 begin to the season sparked chatter of historical past for the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
A 6-5 run since then muted that talk. A shocking dwelling loss to the beforehand 12-23 Charlotte Hornets Monday evening dropped the Thunder to 30-7 and may formally put it to mattress.
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After a 33-33 first quarter, the Hornets rode a 34-17 second quarter to a 67-50 halftime lead in Oklahoma City. They by no means regarded again en route to a 124-97 win that is arguably probably the most beautiful outcome of the NBA season.
“From the get, it just seemed like they were ahead of us on both ends of the floor, offensively and defensively,” MVP Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned after the sport.
Talk of OKC passing Golden State’s report of 73 wins must be put to mattress after Monday evening.
(Joshua Gateley by way of Getty Images)
Are the Thunder OK?
The loss is the second straight for the Thunder after Devin Booker iced a Phoenix Suns win Sunday evening with a last-second 3-pointer. Oklahoma City has now misplaced six of its final 12 video games. Three of these loss have come to the San Antonio Spurs.
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A stretch of .500 basketball and a single dangerous loss is not trigger for panic in Oklahoma City for a Thunder staff that is still a favourite to win the NBA title. But the Thunder look way more weak now than they have been throughout their scorching begin to the season.
Hornets managed each ends of the court docket
The Hornets outplayed the Thunder in nearly each side of the sport. They outshot them from the ground (53% to 37%), from 3 (51% to 28%) and from the road (92% to 67%).
They secured a 52-34 rebounding benefit and moved the ball higher whereas helping on 25 of 41 made subject objectives, in contrast to 18 assists on 34 made subject objectives for the Thunder. Charlotte did this on the third leg of a three-game street journey.
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Oklahoma City’s solely notable benefit in the sport arrived the place anticipated. The Thunder compelled 20 Hornets turnovers whereas committing simply eight of their very own. But their ball-hawking protection wasn’t sufficient to overcome a Hornets staff that shot the lights out when it held on to the ball.
Starting Thunder middle Isaiah Hartenstein sat for a fourth straight sport with a calf harm. Otherwise, Oklahoma City featured its full allotment of starters together with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 21 factors and 6 assists in an unusually inefficient effort whereas capturing 7 of 21 from the ground. Holmgren added 15 factors and 6 rebounds, whereas Williams posted 16 factors, 4 rebounds and a pair of assists. Aaron Wiggins (4 of 8) was the one Thunder starter to shoot 50% from the sphere.
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Brandon Miller paced the Hornets with 28 factors and 6 rebounds whereas capturing 7 of 10 from 3. Breakout rookie sharpshooter Kon Knueppel hit 5 of 7 3s en route to 23 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. LaMelo Ball acquired in on the long-distance get together in a 4-of-7 effort from deep whereas tallying 16 factors.
The Hornets will return dwelling to Charlotte to host the Raptors Wednesday evening. The Thunder, in the meantime, will look to regroup for a house sport in opposition to the Jazz on Wednesday.