NBA: Hornets rout league-best Thunder 124-97 in stunner

Brandon Miller scored 28 points to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 124-97 road victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

The win marked Charlotte’s first over Oklahoma City since March 2023 and the first for any Eastern Conference team in Oklahoma City during a regular-season game since March 2024. Before Monday, the Thunder had not lost to an Eastern Conference opponent anywhere since Jan. 8, 2025, at Cleveland.

Oklahoma City had never scored fewer than 101 points in a game this season, nor had they lost by more than 20 points—until Monday’s blowout. Charlotte capped a three-game road trip with back-to-back wins.

Miller went 7-for-10 from three-point range. Kon Knueppel added 23 points, including five 3-pointers, while Miles Bridges contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds. Moussa Diabate led the team with 12 boards.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points for the Thunder, extending his streak of games with 20 or more points to 108. He shot 7 of 21 from the floor and 1 of 6 from three-point range. Jalen Williams added 16 points, and Chet Holmgren had 15.

After Oklahoma City shot 59.1% in the first quarter, their offense cooled in the second as the Hornets took control, stretching their lead to as much as 19 points. The Thunder missed their first 11 shots over nearly five minutes and could not capitalize despite forcing four turnovers.

Oklahoma City went just 4 of 26 from the floor and 3 of 12 from beyond the arc in the second quarter, while Charlotte outscored them 34-17. Miller had 19 points by halftime as the Hornets led 67-50.

In their first matchup this season, the Thunder won 109-96, with the third quarter proving decisive. Known for strong second-half performances, Oklahoma City struggled Monday on the second night of a back-to-back, allowing the Hornets to pull away and take a 28-point lead heading into the fourth.

Charlotte finished the game shooting 51.4% from beyond the arc, marking their best three-point percentage of the season.

—Field Level Media/Reuters