Thunder Game Day: OKC Set to Match Up Against Former Thunder Players in Charlotte

The Thunder will have a chance to get q much-needed win against a lottery opponent.

Apr 5, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) dribbles the / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder need to get back on track against a few familiar faces.

The Thunder are finishing a five-game road trip, their last of the regular season, in Charlotte against the Hornets. Of course, Charlotte is now home to four players who started the season in Oklahoma City.

Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, Davis Bertans and Aleksej Pokusevski could all be looking for an opportunity to prove a point against their former team. Former Hornet Gordon Hayward will be returning to Spectrum Center. However, the injury that forced him to leave the Thunder’s game against the Indiana Pacers puts his status in doubt.

Mar 22, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Gordon Hayward (33) goes to pass / John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

ODDS: 

The Thunder enter the day as 8.5-point favorites against the Hornets, and the total over/under is 215.5 points.

KEYS TO THE GAME: 

Oklahoma City is on a three-game losing streak for the first time this season, partly due to the absences of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. With the Thunder’s top playmakers scorers potentially out again Sunday, the team will need others to make up for their production.

After losing to two likely playoff teams and the best team in the league, Oklahoma City is getting a break in competition. Charlotte is tied with San Antonio for the league’s third-worst record.

However, the Hornets have found a bright spot this season in rookie Brandon Miller. With Chet Holmgren holding down the middle for the Thunder, Sunday’s game will feature the most recent No. 2 overall picks. To get a win heading back home, the Thunder will need to slow Miller, who scored 32 points on 11-of-13 shooting in a win against the Orlando Magic and their top-two defense.

Meanwhile, if the Thunder can continue to get good contributions from Josh Giddey, he might be able to get the team past the Hornets’ bottom-five defense.

RECORDS: 

Oklahoma City Thunder (52-25) vs. Charlotte Hornets (19-58)

INJURIES: 

Check out our live injury tracker, along with our game day injury report that will release later today.

WHEN: 

Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 6 PM CT

LOCATION: 

Spectrum Center - Charlotte, NC

TV/RADIO: 

Bally Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal

Live Stream: fuboTV (Start Your Free Trial)

FINAL WORD:  

The Thunder have a great opportunity to cement their place among the top three in the Western Conference and get a much-needed win as the team prepares for the playoffs.

The Thunder will finish the season with a four-game homestand beginning Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings.

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