The Oklahoma City Thunder (12-1) and Charlotte Hornets (4-8) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST from Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Thunder are 16.5-point favorites over the Hornets on the spread (Thunder -16.5), with the over/under set at 225.5 total points. Oklahoma City is a -1200 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Charlotte is +850 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Thunder vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, November 15.
My Thunder vs Hornets Prediction
- Thunder vs Hornets pick: Thunder First Half Team Total Over 60.5 (-115)
My Hornets vs Thunder best bet is on Oklahoma City to go over its first half team total, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Thunder vs Hornets Odds
| Thunder Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-16.5 -105 | 225.5 -105o / -115u | -1200 |
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+16.5 -115 | 225.5 -105o / -115u | +850 |
Thunder vs Hornets NBA Preview
Why didn't LaMelo Ball play in overtime?
Well, Charles Lee — head coach of the Hornets — said it was, in fact, a minutes restriction.
“Just trying to be mindful of where his minutes are going forward.
The plan they put in place — let’s make sure we keep him in a spot that’ll maximize how many games he can be available for. We had a little bit of a minutes restriction tonight, and we’ll see how we keep building on that as the season goes on.”
Not having Ball was costly. After forcing OT in Milwaukee, Charlotte lost 147-134, netting just five points in the extra period.
Not only did they travel immediately after, but the game tipped off at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Tonight, the Hornets — who flew back to Charlotte — will host the Thunder at 7 p.m. ET. OKC hasn't played since dominating the Lakers on Wednesday, 121-92.
The Thunder are 12-1 with the best record in the league and have quietly been injured all season long, but they're also arguably the deepest team in the league. They are expected to win emphatically, even with their loaded injury report.
Jalen Williams (wrist), Aaron Wiggins (thigh), Nikola Topic (testicular cancer), Kenrich Williams (knee) and Thomas Sorber (ACL) remain out. Lu Dort, who has been out for five straight games, is questionable to play (shoulder).
Ball is on the Hornets' injury report, and given his recent return from a five-game absence last night, where he logged 16 points and 10 assists in 27 minutes, it's possible he sits tonight.
Ryan Kalbrenner (birth of a child), Liam McNeeley (illness), Grant Williams (knee), Josh Green (shoulder), and Brandon Miller (shoulder) sat out last night for Charlotte.
Thunder vs Hornets Prediction, Betting Analysis
I like OKC Over 60.5 points in the first half, given a tricky board.
This game has a lot of players whose overs I'd generally be interested in, but with a murky injury report (Ball, Kalkbrenner, Dort all effectively questionable) plus the spot with Charlotte on the second of an OT back-to-back travel day, while OKC is on two nights' rest.
Charlotte has a bottom-five defense, and OKC has a top-five offense. I like a few overs on OKC points-wise, so let's just take the whole team early, given that this could get out of hand in the second half once those Hornet back-to-back legs settle in.
OKC averages 60 points per first half this year.
Pick: Thunder 1H Team Total Over 60.5 (-115, DraftKings)
Hornets vs Thunder Betting Trends
