Game ID: 22500506
Charlotte Hornets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Monday, January 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 33 17 21 26 97CHA 33 34 32 25 124
CHA @ OKC ScoutingCHA @ OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
OKC availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT J. Williams missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/28 after 2, 20 min since (76% of 26)
BACK Hartenstein back 12/19 after 7, 24 min since (100% of 24)
BACK Wiggins back 12/23 after 2, 16 min since (84% of 19)
OKC availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT J. Williams missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/28 after 2, 22 min since (83% of 26)
BACK Wiggins back 12/23 after 2, 15 min since (78% of 19)
OKC availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/28 after 2, 22 min since (84% of 26)
BACK Wiggins back 12/23 after 2, 16 min since (85% of 19)
OKC availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/28 after 2, 23 min since (87% of 26)
OKC availability going into 1/05 · back-to-backOUT Hartenstein missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 10 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 10 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 12/28 after 2, 24 min since (90% of 26)
OKC availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 11 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 11 since 12/18, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 2 since 1/05, returns tonight: 24 min (124% of 19)
OUT J. Williams missed 12 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 12 since 12/18, returns tonight: 7 min (65% of 11)
OKC availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 7 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT J. Williams missed 13 since 12/18, returns tonight: 14 min (76% of 19)
BACK Caruso back 1/09 after 2, 24 min since (124% of 19)
BACK Dieng back 1/09 after 12, 7 min since (65% of 11)
NEW Wiggins 19 to 26 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 8 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Caruso back 1/09 after 2, 19 min since (99% of 19)
BACK J. Williams back 1/11 after 13, 14 min since (76% of 19)
BACK Dieng back 1/09 after 12, 7 min since (65% of 11)
NEW Jal. Williams 27 to 34 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 12/29 · 2 days' restOUT Kalkbrenner missed 3 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 24 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Ball back 12/18 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
BACK Sexton back 12/23 after 7, 17 min since (77% of 22)
BACK Mann back 12/20 after 7, 14 min since (109% of 13)
BACK McNeeley back 12/22 after 4, 3 min since (29% of 12)
CHA availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Kalkbrenner missed 4 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 25 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Sexton back 12/23 after 7, 18 min since (80% of 22)
BACK Mann back 12/20 after 7, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK McNeeley back 12/22 after 4, 6 min since (53% of 12)
NEW Salaün 16 to 22 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Kalkbrenner missed 5 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 26 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Sexton back 12/23 after 7, 20 min since (91% of 22)
BACK McNeeley back 12/22 after 4, 7 min since (62% of 12)
NEW Diabaté 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Salaün 16 to 22 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Kalkbrenner missed 6 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 27 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
BACK Sexton back 12/23 after 7, 22 min since (97% of 22)
NEW Diabaté 26 to 33 min over the last 4
NEW Salaün 16 to 22 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Diabaté missed 2 since 1/02, returns tonight: 28 min (110% of 26)
OUT Kalkbrenner missed 7 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 28 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 3 since 12/31, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 13)
NEW Miller 30 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Salaün 16 to 22 min over the last 4
CHA availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Kalkbrenner missed 8 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 29 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Diabaté back 1/05 after 2, 28 min since (110% of 26)
BACK Mann back 1/05 after 3, 2 min since (16% of 13)
CHA availability going into 1/08 · back-to-backOUT Kalkbrenner missed 9 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 30 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Diabaté back 1/05 after 2, 30 min since (113% of 26)
BACK Mann back 1/05 after 3, 2 min since (16% of 13)
CHA availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Kalkbrenner missed 10 since 12/22, returns tonight: 24 min (110% of 21)
OUT Williams missed 31 since 11/04, returns tonight: 14 min (70% of 20)
OUT Mann missed 2 since 1/07, returns tonight: 12 min (95% of 13)
BACK Diabaté back 1/05 after 2, 32 min since (121% of 26)
CHA availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restBACK Diabaté back 1/05 after 2, 30 min since (115% of 26)
BACK Kalkbrenner back 1/10 after 10, 24 min since (110% of 21)
BACK Williams back 1/10 after 31, 14 min since (70% of 20)
BACK Mann back 1/05 after 3, 7 min since (56% of 13)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 106, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 20 a game. Without Hartenstein (4 straight), J. Williams (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Miller at 24 and Ball at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Diabaté (2 straight), Kalkbrenner (7 straight), Williams (28 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-8 a night and OKC minus-3 and the defense, OKC allowing 106 a night to Charlotte's 116. Call it OKC 121, Charlotte 111, OKC by 10.
12/29 vs ATL 140-129 — OKC notes
OKC won 140-129. OKC shot 54% (53 of 98) to ATL's 47%, 12 of 32 from three, and went to the line 23 times to ATL's 17 — 22 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 49-38 for them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 39 (15 of 24, 2 of 5 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Holmgren added 24, J. Williams 20. The hinge was Q3, 43-29: OKC came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 15. OKC trailed 70-74 at the half and won the second half 70-55. Wallace was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/31 vs POR 124-95 — OKC notes
OKC won 124-95. OKC shot 49% (44 of 90) to POR's 39%, 16 of 49 from three, and went to the line 26 times to POR's 17 — 20 points from the stripe to their 13. OKC turned it over 14 times to POR's 24. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 30 (11 of 15, 7 of 7 at the line); Mitchell added 17, Joe 15. The hinge was Q2, 35-25: a lead of 8 became 18, and the lead reached 31. Holmgren was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
1/02 @ GSW 131-94 — OKC notes
OKC won 131-94. OKC shot 52% (48 of 92) to GSW's 36%, 16 of 38 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 30 (10 of 20, 3 of 5 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Wiggins added 15, Holmgren 15. The hinge was Q1, 34-23: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 41. Dort was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
1/04 @ PHX 105-108 — OKC notes
OKC lost 105-108. OKC shot 48% (39 of 82) to PHX's 44%, 10 of 32 from three, and got to the line 19 times to PHX's 29. OKC turned it over 9 times to PHX's 15. The glass went 29-49 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 25 (8 of 22, 1 of 5 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); J. Williams added 23, Holmgren 18. Q1 was theirs, 26-20, but the other 3 periods went 88-79 against them. They led by as many as 18.
1/05 vs CHA 97-124 — OKC notes
OKC lost 97-124. OKC took 16 more shots (93 to 77), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 37% to CHA's 53%, 11 of 39 from three. OKC turned it over 7 times to CHA's 21. The glass went 33-52 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 21 (7 of 21, 1 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Jal. Williams added 16, Holmgren 15. Q4 was theirs, 26-25, the deficit cut from 28 to 27, but the other 3 periods went 99-71 against them. Wiggins's -26 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Holmgren at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Hartenstein (5 straight), J. Williams (11 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 124, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 27 and George at 26 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Kessler (30 straight), Bailey (5 straight), Harkless (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 110 a night to Utah's 124 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 15 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 124, Utah 112, OKC by 12.
1/09 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 19 and Coward at 16 a game. Without Morant (3 straight), Coward (2 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Hartenstein (6 straight), Caruso (2 straight), J. Williams (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-2 a night and OKC minus-11 and the defense, OKC allowing 109 a night to Memphis's 122. Call it OKC 118, Memphis 113.
1/11 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 29 from three, 27 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Hartenstein (7 straight), J. Williams (13 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 118, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Powell at 24 and Jaquez Jr. at 14 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Miami giving it away 17 times a game to OKC's 9 and the glass, where Miami has been minus-2 a night and OKC minus-12. Call it OKC 120, Miami 111.
1/13 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 26 from three, 29 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Hartenstein (8 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 102, shooting 41 percent and 28 from three, 23 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Champagnie at 16 a game. Without Vassell (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been minus-2 a night and OKC minus-12 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 102 a night to OKC's 117. Call it OKC 114, San Antonio 111, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/29 vs MIL 113-123 — CHA notes
CHA lost 113-123. CHA took 9 more shots (93 to 84), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to MIL's 52%, 17 of 46 from three. CHA turned it over 13 times to MIL's 8, and MIL turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 47-31 for them. Miller led with 31 (9 of 22, 3 of 12 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Ball added 26, Sexton 16. Q2 was theirs, 40-38, but the other 3 periods went 85-73 against them. They led by as many as 12. James's -22 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/31 vs GSW 125-132 — CHA notes
CHA lost 125-132. CHA took 10 more shots (93 to 83), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 52% to GSW's 55%, 16 of 40 from three. Miller led with 33 (14 of 29, 3 of 12 from three); Ball added 27, Knueppel 20. Q3 was theirs, 36-29, turning a 5-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 103-89 against them.
1/02 @ MIL 121-122 — CHA notes
CHA lost 121-122. CHA shot 49% (40 of 82) to MIL's 52%, 18 of 40 from three, and went to the line 28 times to MIL's 18 — 23 points from the stripe to their 16. Knueppel led with 26 (9 of 16, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Bridges added 25, Miller 19. Q1 was theirs, 38-24, but the other 3 periods went 98-83 against them. They led by as many as 16. Bridges's -22 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 @ CHI 112-99 — CHA notes
CHA won 112-99. CHA shot 43% (39 of 91) to CHI's 45%, 15 of 41 from three, and went to the line 23 times to CHI's 14 — 19 points from the stripe to their 10. Bridges led with 26 (11 of 18, 3 of 7 from three); Miller added 22, Knueppel 18. The hinge was Q3, 32-17: CHA came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 7, and the lead reached 18. CHA trailed 50-58 at the half and won the second half 62-41. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/05 @ OKC 124-97 — CHA notes
CHA won 124-97. CHA shot 53% (41 of 77) to OKC's 37%, 19 of 37 from three. CHA turned it over 21 times to OKC's 7, and OKC turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 52-33 for them. Miller led with 28 (8 of 16, 7 of 10 from three); Knueppel added 23, Bridges 17. The hinge was Q2, 34-17: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 30. Miller was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
1/07 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Miller at 27 and Knueppel at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Kalkbrenner (8 straight), Williams (29 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Barnes at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Poeltl (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 42 percent from three to Toronto's 30 and the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 15 times a game to Toronto's 11. Call it Charlotte 117, Toronto 116, Toronto keeping it close.
1/08 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Miller at 26 and Bridges at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Kalkbrenner (9 straight), Williams (30 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Nembhard at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Mathurin (2 straight), Que. Jackson (2 straight), Toppin (34 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-10 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 109 a night to Indiana's 123. Call it Charlotte 119, Indiana 113.
1/10 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Markkanen at 30 and George at 20 a game. Without Kessler (32 straight), Harkless (23 straight), Tshiebwe (4 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Bridges at 20 and Knueppel at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Kalkbrenner (10 straight), Williams (31 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Charlotte allowing 106 a night to Utah's 124 and the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-7 a night and Utah minus-3. Call it Charlotte 118, Utah 116, Utah keeping it close.
1/12 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 25 and Harden at 23 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones Jr. (4 straight), Bogdanović (8 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 100, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Ball at 20 and Miller at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-13 a night and the Clippers minus-6 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 100 a night to the Clippers' 114. Call it Charlotte 114, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAM A. Mitchell
AW A. Wiggins
BC B. Carlson
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
CY C. Youngblood
IJ I. Joe
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
CHABM B. Miller
CS C. Sexton
CO Connaughton
DI Diabate
JG J. Green
KK K. Knueppel
LB L. Ball
LM L. McNeeley
MB M. Bridges
MD M. Diabaté
PH P. Hall
SJ S. James
TM T. Mann
TS T. Salaün
OKC/CHA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
NBA-leading Thunder humbled in 124-97 home loss to struggling Hornets
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — Brandon Miller scored 28 points and the Charlotte Hornets stunned the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder 124-97 on Monday night.
Kon Knueppel added 23 points for the Hornets, who had lost three of four before handing Oklahoma City its worst loss of the season. It was a season-low point total for the Thunder and the only time they have failed to score 100 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points for his 108th straight game with at least 20, the second-longest streak in NBA history. He made just 7 of 21 field goals, and while he's known for sitting out fourth quarters because the Thunder are far ahead, he sat out the fourth this time because they were so far behind.
It was Oklahoma City's second straight loss and second home defeat of the season. The defending NBA champions started 24-1 but now are 30-7.
Charlotte ran out to an early 21-9 lead, but the Thunder, led by Ajay Mitchell 's 10 points off the bench, tied the game at 33 by the end of the first period.
Charlotte regained momentum in the second and went up 67-50 at halftime. Miller scored 19 points before the break. Oklahoma City made just 8 of 15 free throws in the first half. Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's No. 2 scorer, was held to nine points on 3-for-12 shooting through two quarters.
Early in the third quarter, Charlotte's LaMelo Ball caught a ball that was heading out of bounds, then made a circus shot from the corner with a foot on the 3-point line while standing on one leg to push Charlotte's lead to 74-55.
Miller's 3-pointer as time expired in the third extended Charlotte's lead to 99-71, and the Hornets remained in control from there.
Up next Hornets: Host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.