Free NBA Pick: Thunder vs. Hornets NBA Odds
Looking for OKC Thunder vs. Charlotte Hornets free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Thunder taking on the Hornets on Thursday, December 29th, 2021 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Thunder-Hornets matchup.
2022 NBA Handicapping
(15-19) OKC Thunder vs. Charlotte Hornets (9-26)
Date: Thursday, December 29th
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Venue: Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina
NBA Moneyline Odds: Thunder +103 | Hornets -113 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Hornets -1
NBA Betting Total: 239.5
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Thursday, December 29th, finds the OKC Thunder and Charlotte Hornets playing the first of two scheduled matches. OKC will host the second contest on March 28th.
Both teams last played on Tuesday with the Thunder defeating the Spurs 130-114 while the Hornets lost 105-110 to the Warriors.
The Thunder hold the all-time record between the clubs with 41 wins in 62 meetings. Last season the teams played twice with the Hornets winning both contests.
*Editor’s Note: Statistics and rankings are current as of this writing, Wednesday evening, December 28th. Numbers may vary slightly entering games on Thursday, December 29th.
OKC Thunder
So much for tanking — this young Thunder squad is scoreboard-watching with at least six teams within striking distance. The Mavericks (+3.5) are the team furthest ahead of this six while the Wolves are a mere half-game ahead.
Certainly, there is work to do, and the team may elect to tank in the second half, but that hasn’t been the way Mark Daigneault has coached this squad.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is producing an All-Star, All-NBA-worthy season averaging 31.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
His shooting splits are 50.5% from the field, 35.2% from deep, and 92.5% from the stripe taking 20.7, 2.9, and 10.3 shots from those areas respectively.
The Thunder score 115.8 points per game ranking eighth shooting 46.2% from the field (22nd) and 34.8% from deep (18th).
Defensively, the Thunder rank 25th for opponent points allowing 116.8 per game while opponents shoot 46.5% from the field (11th) and 36.5% from the perimeter (24th).
Aleksej Pokusevski (leg), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle), and Ousmane Dieng (non-displaced wrist fracture) are out Thursday. Chet Holmgren (foot) is out for the season. Lindy Waters III is on G League assignment
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets struggled without LaMelo Ball, but they’re definitely also missing the services of Miles Bridges who left a gaping hole to fill. Bridges’ ranked top three on the team in the key categories averaging 20.2 points (1st), 7.0 rebounds (2nd), and 3.8 assists (3rd) last season.
The Hornets and Bridges are said to be in talks again but even if they resolve a new contract he wouldn’t be on the court any time soon with the league expected to suspend him once he does sign a contract (Bridges pleaded no contest to felony charges for domestic violence).
Charlotte ranks 24th averaging 111.2 points per game and ranks 30th in both field goal percentage shooting 44.4% and on the perimeter shooting 32.4%.
Defensively, Charlotte is giving up an average of 118.0 points (28th). Opponents shoot 48.0 percent from the field (23rd) and 36.0% from the perimeter ranking 17th overall.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (hand) is doubtful, Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) is questionable and Nick Richards (ankle) is out Thursday while Cody Martin (knee) is out indefinitely.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
- The Hornets are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games at home.
- The Thunder are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games against Charlotte.
- The total has gone under in 5 of Charlotte’s last 5 games when hosting OKC.
- The OKC Thunder are 4-1 straight-up in their last 5 games.
- The Hornets are 2-11 SU in their last 13 games.
- The Thunder are 14-6 straight-up in their last 20 games against Charlotte.
- The total has gone under in 6 of Charlotte’s last 8 games against OKC.
Free OKC Thunder vs. Charlotte Hornets NBA Prediction:
Forget their positioning because both of these teams are competing for wins and while the Hornets have a much tougher path just to get into the play-in tournament with LaMelo back it’s not inconceivable they could turn the season around.
That said, I’m leaning toward OKC given how often they’re in the mix at game end (Thunder/Heat/Mavs lead the league with 23 clutch time appearances) and the value gained from those experiences.
A victory by the Thunder would draw them even with the Wolves and within range of that play-in seed and while that might not excite many teams, for SGA and his young teammates who’ve been mired in tanking for two straight seasons it’s everything.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Thunder +1
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