OKC dismantles Charlotte for 5th consecutive NBA win

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still the hottest team in the Western Conference after crushing the Charlotte Hornets, 109-96, to extend their NBA regular-season winning streak to five games on Nov. 16, 2025.

Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-high 33 points and Chet Holmgren’s efficient shooting, Oklahoma kicked off its back-to-back road trip with a convincing dub, before flying to New Orleans to visit the Pelicans.

The Thunder needed every basket scored by the superstar duo as the Hornets received a much-needed energy boost from the crowd to finish the opening quarter tied at 30-all.

Without the presence of LaMelo Ball, the Hornets were able to go toe-to-toe with Oklahoma in the scoring department, courtesy of a hot start from Miles Bridges and Collin Sexton.

Oklahoma was able to create a narrow gap at the end of the second quarter after Ajay Mitchell and Isaiah Hartenstein scored late buckets, but it wasn’t until midway through the third period that the reigning NBA kings imposed their will on the struggling Charlotte squad.

The Thunder outscored Charlotte, 32-18, and mounted a 22-point lead in the third, which was too much to claw back for the Hornets.

SGA entered the unconscious zone during that frame, where he sank his signature perimeter shots at will, backstopped by Holmgren’s consecutive finishes in the pick-and-roll.

When the Hornets trimmed their deficit to just 12 points at the start of the fourth, SGA was deployed back for a short window of time, scoring another six markers that protected the Thunder’s double-digit cushion until the final buzzer sounded.

SGA finished another win, scoring 30+ points or more, shooting 13-of-19 from the field alongside seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals.

Meanwhile, Holmgren extended his double-digit scoring streak to 10 straight games, capping off the road dub with 25 markers, eight boards, and two steals.

Despite returning to the second unit with Luguentz Dort back in the starting five rotation, Mitchell still chipped in huge scoring numbers and delivered 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

On the other hand, the Hornets, who have now dropped back-to-back games, fell to a disappointing 4-9 win-loss record and are sitting at the 12th spot in the Eastern Conference.