Preview 18 of 82: Hornets @ Thunder

Time: 7:00 PM CST

TV: FSOK

Game Notes: Thunder / Hornets

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:

TeamPFPAREBASTSTLBLKTOFG%3P%
CHA115.7110.344.424.775.812.946.236.7
OKC111.8105.648.321.8115.514.34531.6

Four Factors:

TeamEFGFTATOV%OREBOPP EFGOPP FTAOPP TO%OPP OREB%
CHA53.10.24512.727.851.90.26115.127.4
OKC50.30.27213.932.850.80.27317.726.5

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: