When the calendar flipped to 2026, the 12–23 Hornets had the NBA’s tallest task ahead: Go into Oklahoma City and get past the defending champion Thunder. Charlotte had a dreadful start to the season, just 4–14 after a seven-game losing streak in late November, but the tide would turn during that Monday night contest in early January at Paycom Center.
With a complete performance from the exciting core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges, the Hornets gave the Thunder an absolute beatdown. It wasn’t a depleted Oklahoma City group either, as it had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams all on the floor for what was a 27-point loss. Charlotte’s defense held Gilgeous-Alexander to just 21 points as Miller, Knueppel, Ball and Bridges combined for 84 points on the night.
