Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets Picks and Predictions March 21st 2025

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets March 21st 2025

At 8:00 ET, the 57-12 Thunder will host the 18-51 Hornets in a non-conference matchup. Oklahoma City is currently favored by 20 points, and the over/under line is set at 226.5.

FSDO will have TV coverage for this game, which will be played at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Thunder have won four straight games and are first in the Western Conference, while the Hornets are 14th in the East.

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Hornets vs. Thunder Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Charlotte Hornets at Oklahoma City Thunder
• Where: Oklahoma City at Paycom Center
• Date: Friday, March 21st
• Betting Odds OKC -20, CHA +1188 | OKC -2739 O/U 226.5

The Hornets Can Win If…

The Hornets improved to 18-51 on the season with a 115-98 win over the Knicks on Thursday. Charlotte, who were +7.5 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread with a +17 point margin. The total score of 213 points fell short of the 221.5 O/U line.

A 13-0 run helped Charlotte take control early, extending the score from 19-17 to 30-19. They maintained their lead throughout, winning each quarter, including a 30-26 edge in the 4th.

LaMelo Ball knocked down 5 threes at a 50% clip, finishing with 25 points and 8 assists in the Hornets’ win over the Knicks. Charlotte connected on 15 threes as a team, shooting 46.9% from deep and 48.9% overall.

Mark Williams contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds, with 8 points coming in the 4th quarter. Ball also added 11 points in the final period, while Miles Bridges scored 9 of his 15 points in the 3rd.

The Hornets put together a strong defensive performance on Thursday, holding the Knicks to just 98 points. Charlotte set the tone early, allowing only 19 points in the 1st quarter and giving up 28 points in the 3rd, their highest total in any quarter. Overall, the Hornets limited New York to 40% shooting from the field.

Charlotte was particularly effective in defending the three-point line, where the Knicks shot just 25%, making 10 threes. The Hornets also controlled the boards, grabbing 41 defensive rebounds while giving up 9 offensive boards. They finished with 1 steal and 3 blocks.

• When looking at their past ten road matchups, Charlotte has an ATS record of 5-5 while averaging 102 per game. The team went 3-7 overall in these games.
• Going back to their last five games as the underdog, the Hornets have a straight up record of 2-3. But, their mark vs the spread was just 2-3.
• Over their last five games, the Hornets have an over/under record of 2-3 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.

The Thunder Can Win If…

The Thunder improved to 57-12 on the season with a dominant 133-100 win over the 76ers on Wednesday. Playing at home, Oklahoma City entered the game as -11.5 point favorites and covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game reached 233, surpassing the pre-game O/U line of 227.5.

Oklahoma City set the tone early, going on a 10-0 run to start the game and leading 42-26 after the 1st quarter. Although the 76ers edged out the Thunder 30-28 in the 2nd quarter, Oklahoma City responded by holding Philadelphia to just 18 points in the 3rd quarter while scoring 33. They entered the 4th quarter with a 103-74 lead and outscored the 76ers 30-26 in the final period.

The Thunder’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their 133-100 win over the 76ers, shooting 52.2% from the field and knocking down 24 threes at a 46.2% clip. Aaron Wiggins led the way with 26 points, while Isaiah Joe added 21 points and 5 made threes.

Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams each contributed 19 points, with Williams scoring 9 in the opening quarter. Branden Carlson also had a strong start, putting up 10 of his 16 points in the first period.

The Thunder’s defense shined in their 133-100 win over the 76ers, especially in the 3rd quarter, where they allowed just 18 points. Overall, they held Philadelphia to 100 points on 36% shooting.

Oklahoma City sent the 76ers to the line 16 times, where they made 12 free throws. The Thunder also recorded 10 steals and 5 blocks in the game.

• In their last three home games, Oklahoma City has averaged 117 points per game while allowing 108. The team’s record in this stretch was 3-0 while going 3-0 vs. the spread.
• Oklahoma City has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 4-1 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
• In their last three games, the Thunder have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Lean

As the underdogs with a spread of +20, we recommend going with the Hornets on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 226.5 and our model has the Hornets and Thunder finishing with a combined 219 points. Our pick is to take the under.

Thunder’s Jaylin Williams Looks to Shine Again as Hornets Visit OKC

Jaylin Williams is making his presence felt at the right time for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he’ll have another chance to bolster his role in the rotation when the Thunder host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.

Jaylin Williams Making His Case

With the postseason inching closer, Williams is pushing for a key spot in the Thunder’s playoff plans. The third-year big man is coming off a career-best performance, logging 19 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists in a blowout win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

That was Williams’ second triple-double in his last six games, and it came with OKC missing several core players, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein. Now, with Gilgeous-Alexander and Hartenstein expected back Friday, Williams will shift into a different role — but one he’s shown he can handle with confidence.

Over the past six games, Williams is averaging 7.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in just under 21 minutes per game while shooting over 40 percent from three. His improved shooting and reliable floor spacing have earned him praise from coach Mark Daigneault, who encouraged Williams from the jump following his early-season hamstring injury.

Thunder Continue Eastern Domination

The Thunder (57-12) are riding a four-game win streak and have won 11 of their last 12. They’ve also been nearly unbeatable against Eastern Conference teams this season, owning a 25-1 record in such matchups.

Oklahoma City currently holds the top record in the league and has shown remarkable depth even when stars are sidelined. Friday’s game against the Hornets could mark another test of their bench strength if minutes are again staggered for key players returning from injuries.

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Hornets Hoping to Ride Momentum

Charlotte (18-51) enters on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the New York Knicks 115-98 on Thursday behind 25 points and eight assists from LaMelo Ball. The Hornets have now won four of their last seven, but their 3-9 record on the back end of back-to-backs this season isn’t promising.

Ball hasn’t played in both halves of a back-to-back since November, so his availability is in question. If he sits, it would put more pressure on Charlotte’s young core to try and break through against one of the league’s best defenses.

Head coach Charles Lee remains focused on the long-term process, echoing themes that once surrounded the Thunder’s rebuild. He continues to emphasize development and effort over short-term results, something OKC fans know all too well.

Looking for Friday’s top NBA picks? Don’t miss the full breakdowns and predictions on our NBA Expert Picks page.