Hornets vs Thunder NBA Pick: Who Has The Edge In This Preseason Matchup? (Oct 5)

• The Hornets were one of the worst teams in the league during the 2024-25 season.
• On the other side, OKC enters 2025-26 as the reigning NBA champs.
• These squads previously squared off on Mar. 21, with the Thunder cruising to a lopsided 141-106 victory.

One of the games on Sunday’s NBA preseason slate features the Charlotte Hornets hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder. Who has the edge in our Hornets vs Thunder pick?

Hornets Were Not Good Last Season

Charlotte concluded the 2024-25 campaign with nine losses in its final 10 games, including seven straight. As a result, they finished with the third-worst record in the league at 19-63.

Furthermore, this ball club was not an elite unit on either end of the floor. The Hornets finished 30th in scoring and 29th in offensive rating. From a defensive standpoint, Charlotte finished 16th in points allowed and posted the seventh-worst defensive rating.

OKC Is League’s Latest Champion

The Thunder produced wins in eight of their final 10 contests last season on their way to winning a league-best 68 games. Even more important, they were the last team standing, clinching the championship with a 103-91 victory in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Unlike its opponent, OKC peformed at a high level at both ends of the court. This unit was fourth in scoring offense and led the league in offensive efficiency. The Thunder registered the third-best scoring defense and ranked sixth in defensive rating.

Hornets vs Thunder NBA Pick

Exhibition matchups can be difficult to predict because it is reasonable to presume that star players aren’t going to see a ton of action. Even with that in mind, it is safe to say that the edge goes to the Thunder in what will be the first preaseason action for both teams.