Close video games have been an everyday theme with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The want to tug out extra of these is certain to be the important thing to how the staff fares.
Another likelihood to indicate if latest successes could be sustained comes in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night time in Charlotte, N.C.
Oklahoma City received 4 of the ultimate 5 video games of a seven-game homestand, together with avoiding a detailed recreation by pulling away to beat the San Antonio Spurs 130-114 on Tuesday night time.
“We did a really good job in the fourth quarter really defending,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
The Hornets and the Oklahoma City Thunder have performed 62 video games within the common season with 21 victories for the Hornets and 41 for the Thunder.
The Hornets have been within the reverse state of affairs, coming off a six-game street journey on the West Coast. They went 2-4, capped by Tuesday night time’s 110-105 loss at Golden State.
The recreation was tied at 101-101, however Charlotte coach Steve Clifford didn’t level to the ending stretch as being as pricey as how the staff began in such a rut.
“The fourth quarter is never the most important quarter,” Clifford stated. “A lot of ways, you can say it’s the first quarter, especially on the road. If you play from ahead, it’s a big advantage.”
“Just trying to be the aggressors,” Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “Play with pace and play together and try to make the right decision from the get as soon as the ball tipped.”
Gilgeous-Alexander has led the Thunder in scoring in 11 of the final 12 video games.
Gilgeous-Alexander additionally had 4 blocked pictures within the San Antonio recreation.
“He has a care factor at that end of the floor,” Daigneault stated. “We’ve had a good defence for a good 10-, 12-game stretch and he’s a big part of that. He plays a lot of minutes and he carries his weight at that end of the floor. That’s an area that we can continue to improve.”
The Thunder obtained 68 factors from reserves in Tuesday night time’s recreation.
“Great job, all those guys,” Daigneault stated. “Good job of picking each other up. I thought top to bottom we were pretty good.”
Charlotte hasn’t contained lots of the league’s second-tier groups. The Hornets allowed 65 first-half factors to Golden State in a recreation through which Warriors standouts Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins didn’t play.
A 2-4 street journey for the Hornets means they need to be determined to make amends at house.
“I thought 3-3 would have been great,” Clifford stated. “We still have two more good players to get back (from injuries in Cody Martin and Dennis Smith Jr.). It’s going to take us a little bit more time to get organized.”
The Hornets try to get all of the components aligned, one thing that has been troublesome with a rash of accidents. The encouraging half is that Gordon Hayward logged 37 minutes and LaMelo Ball performed 35 minutes in Tuesday’s recreation.
“We’re playing every other day, so there’s not a lot of practice time,” Clifford stated. “I think you can see the beginnings of what can be a good team. The reality is we’ve really had this group now for this trip and I think they understand that. The whole thing is we have to make progress.”
Oklahoma City guard Luguentz Dort wasn’t feeling at full power Tuesday night time so he performed restricted minutes. The Thunder used some completely different participant mixtures and Daigneault stated he was pleased with the changes.
Thursday night time’s recreation marks only a one-game journey for the Thunder, who might be again house for his or her subsequent two video games. Oklahoma City misplaced its previous three street matchups.
This is the start of a four-game homestand for the Hornets, which misplaced its final 5 house video games. This is its first house recreation since December 16.
When will the Hornets vs Thunder NBA 2022-23 match be performed?
The Charlotte Hornets vs Oklahoma City Thunder conflict of the NBA 2022-23 season might be performed on Friday, December 30.
At what time will the Hornets vs Thunder conflict of the NBA 2022-23 season be performed?
The Charlotte Hornets vs Oklahoma City Thunder conflict of the NBA 2022-23 season might be performed at 6:30 AM IST, December 30.
Where will the Hornets vs Thunder conflict of the NBA 2022-23 season match be performed?
The Charlotte Hornets vs Oklahoma City Thunder conflict of the NBA 2022-23 season might be performed at he AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Where are you able to watch the Hornets vs Thunder conflict of the NBA 2022-23 season match in India?
The Charlotte Hornets vs Oklahoma City Thunder conflict of the NBA 2022-23 season could be streamed on NBA League Pass.
