Hornets vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer
vs.
New Orleans Hornets (7-23, 4-9 road) vs. OKC Thunder (24-7, 12-1 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 108.7 (2nd), Hornets– 98.8 (27th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.5 (15th), Hornets – 104.6 (21st)
Pace: Thunder – 93.4 (4th), Hornets – 88.1 (30th)
View from the enemy: Hornets 24/7
And just like that, back at it again. Less than 24 hours ago, The Peake was full of confetti after probably the best regular season game in OKC history. It was an exhausting overtime win for the Thunder, something that saw 51, 40 and a triple-double. It was wild, incredible and fun.
But the Thunder have to forget all about it and turn around and do it again. Luckily, it’s against a banged up, bad New Orleans team the Thunder should handle. But if not, last night’s win was all for not. Essentially the Thunder would be trading a great win for a bad loss. Which is no good. You can’t let last night’s incredible finish beat you tonight. You’ve got to move on.
New Orleans coming in: New Orleans last played Friday, so they’re well rested.
Three Big Things
1. Fatigue. The Thunder are surely going to be worn out. But they’ve just got to dig deep and play on. No way around it. It’s either that or going halfway and keeping it close to where you have to battle in the fourth quarter or you lose.
2. Chris Kaman. Essentially, he’s the key for the Hornets. He did well in stretches in the first meeting between these two teams (didn’t play in the second) and with basically the entire rotation out for New Orleans, he’ll be the focus. Whether it’s Ibaka or Perk, you can’t sleep on Kaman.
3. Show something. In all honesty, I’d love to see the Thunder make a little statement here. Not because it’s the Hornets, but OKC has every excuse to come out flat and play a lackluster game. Instead, how about coming out hot and letting Westbrook and Durant sit the fourth?
Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Zzzzzzzzzzzz.
