Thunder Bench Outshines Hornets in Preseason Opener
The Charlotte Hornets opened their preseason tonight in North Charleston, hoping to build some early momentum and excitement for the year ahead. Instead, they ran into a reality check, one that didn’t even involve any of Oklahoma City’s stars. The defending champion Thunder rested their regular starters, yet still cruised to a 135–114 victory that left Charlotte searching for answers. Sure, it’s only preseason, but when a team’s backups control the game from start to finish, it’s hard not to be a little concerned.
From the opening tip, Oklahoma City looked more comfortable and composed. Their ball movement was smooth, their spacing sharp, and their effort consistent. Meanwhile, the Hornets seemed hesitant, as if still figuring out how to play together. Aaron Wiggins, Jaylin Williams, and Ousmane Dieng led the Thunder with 23, 17, and 17 points, respectively, while rookie guard Nikola Topić ran the offense with ability beyond his years, finishing with seven assists. Charlotte’s usual stars, LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges, had moments, but none were able to sustain much momentum. Defensively, the Hornets looked a step slow, allowing Oklahoma City to get open looks from everywhere on the floor.
Rookie guard Kon Knueppel was one of the few bright spots for Charlotte’s starting group, finishing with 18 points and showing impressive confidence for his preseason debut. He hit four threes and played with a calmness that stood out on a night when the Hornets were otherwise uneven. LaMelo Ball flashed his creativity in spurts, finding teammates with slick passes, and Miles Bridges chipped in with solid effort inside. Overall, though, the offense felt disconnected. The Hornets often settled for tough jumpers or late shot-clock looks, and the defensive energy just wasn’t consistent. When a young, short-handed Thunder squad is getting whatever they want offensively, it speaks less to talent and more to effort, and that’s something Charlotte will need to tighten up fast.
Off the bench, a few players did manage to bring some life to the game. Collin Sexton came in with his usual intensity, attacking downhill and finishing with 11 points. Ryan Kalkbrenner also added 11, showing good instincts around the rim and cleaning up a few missed shots with soft finishes. Sophomore guard KJ Simpson provided a spark, scoring 10 points in just 12 minutes and showing flashes of why the team values his energy. Still, the Hornets’ second unit struggled to keep pace with the Thunder’s backups, who played with the kind of chemistry that Charlotte’s bench never quite found. It wasn’t for lack of effort; it just felt like one team knew exactly what it wanted to do, and the other was still figuring it out.
At the end of the day, preseason games are less about wins and losses and more about learning who you are. That’s the lens Charlotte has to use after this one. There were glimpses of promise, Knueppel’s confidence, Sexton’s aggression, Simpson’s spark, but the bigger picture is that the Hornets looked out of sync. Head coach Charles Lee will have plenty of film to break down and plenty of lessons to stress about focus and communication. It’s early, and there’s no need to panic, but if Charlotte wants to take a step forward this season, they’ll need to bring a lot more urgency and pride the next time they hit the floor.
