Thunder Fall Short in Tightly Contested Game Against Hornets

The Oklahoma City Thunder, returning home after four road games, took on the Charlotte Hornets, who were stretched thin with injuries.

The Thunder were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who injured his ankle in the Thunder’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder were unable to outscore the shorthanded Hornets, dropping the game 137-134.

This was a return game for Theo Maledon, who was able to get the starting nod as the Hornets navigate injuries. He was met with an ovation when he was announced a starter.

With the Thunder playing without Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder had a sloppier start to the game offensively. Josh Giddey, though, was in attack mode. Amidst the sloppy start, Giddey scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
It wasn’t only a sloppy start for the Thunder as the Hornets led the Thunder 26-23 to end the first quarter. Neither team shot too well from the field through the first frame.

Aleksej Pokusevski made his return to the lineup as he started the second quarter. This was his first game back since Dec. 27.

In the second quarter, the Thunder weren’t taking control of the game, but Jalen Williams rattled off seven straight points, forcing the Hornets into a timeout. He rattled off 19 first-half points to help the Thunder take a 68-57 first-half lead. Williams’ 19 first-half points were a career-high for a first half, and he did so on 6-of-7 shooting.

Isaiah Joe and Giddey both also stepped up in Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence, with Joe scoring 16 points and Giddey scoring 15 points in the half.

As the second frame hit the midway mark, the Thunder began to take control of the game, and the aggressiveness of their three leading scorers led the way.

The Thunder continued to expand on their solid offense showing, but they struggled to slow down the Hornets offense. Through three quarters, the Thunder led 99-93. All three of Joe, Giddey and Williams surpassed the 20-point mark in the third quarter, too, as the three continued to lead the squad offensively.

The Hornets weren’t ready to let this game go, as they spent the first few minutes of the final frame taking back the lead. In less than three minutes into the quarter, the Thunder trailed by three points.

Midway through the quarter, the Thunder were trailing by double-digits. PJ Washington was torching the nets and the Thunder had no response.
Though the Thunder wouldn’t let this game go away easily, they were now playing from behind, which was a shakeup from the rest of the game.

A few Lu Dort big plays, followed by a timely three from Joe, cut the Thunder’s deficit to only five points with under four minutes to go in the game.

Washington responded, but Joe knocked down another timely 3-pointer. Williams found his way through the lane and finished a tough layup, tying the game up at 129-129 with around two minutes to go in the game.
The two teams traded a few baskets and the game remained tied within the final minute of play. Giddey missed a bump layup, and the Thunder allowed a put-back slam to give the Hornets a 134-132 lead.

Williams had the opportunity to tie the game with his free throws, but split the free throws, giving the Hornets a 134-133 lead.

The Thunder fouled, but JT Thor split his free throws. Giddey then drew a foul, and had a chance to tie the game. He split the free throws, and the Thunder, once again, trailed by one point.

By the time the Thunder were able to foul following the missed free throw, they were out of time. The Hornets knocked down the free throws and the Thunder lost 137-134.

It was a night of career-highs. Washington, Giddey and Joe all set their career-highs in scoring.

Washington scored 43 points for Charlotte on 16-of-24 shooting while consistently giving the Hornets much-needed momentum and offense.

Giddey scored 31 points on 14-of-22 shooting, and was one of three Thunder players that scored 30 or more points. Joe added 33 points and Williams added 31 points, as the three combined for 95 points.

With the loss, the Thunder fall back two games below .500 with a 37-39 record as the race to the Play-In Tournament continues.

The Thunder return to action tomorrow as the Thunder take on the Pistons at home on the second night of back to back home games.

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