Hornets Stun NBA-Leading Thunder With 124-97 Blowout/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Charlotte Hornets delivered a shocking 124-97 road win over the top-ranked Oklahoma City Thunder. Brandon Miller led all scorers with 28 points as the Thunder failed to score 100 for the first time this season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak continued, but he struggled, and the Thunder endured their worst defeat of the year.
Thunder vs. Hornets Blowout: Quick Looks
- Hornets dominated Thunder 124-97 in Oklahoma City
- Charlotte snapped a rough stretch, winning after 3 losses in 4 games
- Brandon Miller scored 28 points to lead all scorers
- Kon Knueppel added 23 points in the upset
- Thunder held to season-low 97 points, first sub-100 game
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 but shot just 33% from the field
- His 108-game 20-point streak remains active, 2nd longest in NBA history
- LaMelo Ball hit a circus shot in pivotal third quarter
- Thunder now 30-7 after starting season 24-1
- Second straight loss and only second home defeat for OKC
Hornets Stun NBA-Leading Thunder With 124-97 Blowout
Deep Look
In one of the most surprising upsets of the 2026 NBA season, the struggling Charlotte Hornets handed the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder their worst loss of the year in a lopsided 124-97 defeat on Monday night.
Led by standout rookie Brandon Miller, who dropped 28 points, Charlotte capitalized on a flat performance from the Thunder, who were held under 100 points for the first time this season. The win was especially stunning considering the Hornets had lost three of their previous four games and were heavy underdogs heading into Oklahoma City.
Kon Knueppel poured in 23 points, complementing Miller’s offensive firepower and giving the Hornets the scoring balance they needed to overwhelm the defending NBA champions. The Thunder, who began the season with an incredible 24-1 start, now sit at 30-7 after dropping two games in a row — both uncharacteristically poor performances for the top-ranked squad.
Oklahoma City’s offense sputtered from the start, struggling to match Charlotte’s energy and execution. The Hornets opened the game with a 21-9 burst, quickly forcing the Thunder on their heels. While OKC responded behind Ajay Mitchell’s spark off the bench, scoring 10 first-quarter points to help tie the game at 33 after one, the comeback was short-lived.
Charlotte regrouped and outscored Oklahoma City 34-17 in the second quarter, taking a commanding 67-50 lead into halftime. Miller was nearly unstoppable early, racking up 19 first-half points, while the Thunder failed to capitalize at the free-throw line, making just 8 of 15 attempts. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — the league’s second-leading scorer — was held to nine points on 3-of-12 shooting in the first half.
Gilgeous-Alexander, known for often sitting out fourth quarters when the Thunder are comfortably ahead, was benched in this game for a very different reason: the Thunder were trailing badly. He finished with 21 points on 7-of-21 shooting, continuing his impressive streak of 108 consecutive games with at least 20 points — the second-longest in NBA history — but his efficiency was well below his usual standards.
The second half didn’t offer much hope for a Thunder rally. Early in the third quarter, LaMelo Ball electrified the arena with a jaw-dropping play — saving a ball from going out of bounds and nailing an off-balance jumper from the corner, one foot on the 3-point line. That bucket pushed Charlotte’s lead to 74-55 and seemed to drain any momentum the Thunder were trying to generate.
Miller’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to close the third quarter gave Charlotte a 99-71 lead, and they cruised through the fourth without any serious threat from the Thunder, who appeared rattled and out of rhythm throughout.
For the Hornets, this performance marked a potential turning point in a difficult season. The team displayed cohesion, energy, and strong execution — three elements that had been missing in recent weeks. The bench contributed, the defense held its ground, and they shot efficiently from the floor, seizing control of the game from the opening minutes.
Meanwhile, the Thunder will need to regroup quickly. With expectations sky-high following their championship season and dominant start to the year, back-to-back losses — particularly one this lopsided at home — will raise questions about focus and consistency. Their typically potent offense was unusually ineffective, their defense porous, and their star players lacked the intensity fans have come to expect.
The defeat narrows Oklahoma City’s margin atop the Western Conference and serves as a reminder that even the league’s best teams are vulnerable when they lose their edge. Coach Mark Daigneault will likely emphasize better execution and energy heading into their next matchup.
Up next, the Hornets will return home to face the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, while the Thunder aim to bounce back as they host the Utah Jazz the same night.
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