Thunder wins fifth straight, defeating Hornets 141-106

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Charlotte Hornets 141-106 on Friday night. This victory marked the Thunder's fifth straight win. Gilgeous-Alexander, who is currently the NBA's top scorer with an average of 33.0 points per game, returned to play after missing a previous game. He shot 13 of 18 from the field, along with adding six rebounds and nine assists before resting in the fourth quarter. Chet Holmgren contributed 14 points, five rebounds, and three blocks for the Thunder. Oklahoma City has secured the top seed in the Western Conference for the second year in a row. This follows Milwaukee's win over the Lakers, which confirmed their position. The Thunder led 66-49 by halftime, boosted by Kenrich Williams making a long buzzer-beater. Leading into the fourth quarter, they maintained a 27-point advantage. For the Hornets, Miles Bridges scored 20 points and Nick Smith Jr. added 14 points. The team was missing key players LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams due to injuries. They have struggled recently, losing six games by 30 points or more in the last month. Charlotte initially kept the score close by shooting well from three-point range but faltered in the second half. Oklahoma City launched a decisive 20-3 run after Charlotte closed the gap to ten points in the third quarter. Next, the Hornets will play against Miami, while the Thunder are set to face the Clippers.