Hornets vs Thunder Prediction, Picks & Odds for Summer League Semifinal (July 19)

• The Hornets are 3.5-point underdogs to the Thunder in Saturday’s Summer League semifinal at 3:00 PM PT
• Both teams are 4-0, with Charlotte averaging 100 points per game to lead all remaining teams
• See below for my Hornets vs Thunder picks and predictions, plus odds for the second semifinal

The second Summer League semifinal features the NBA’s reigning champions against one of the league’s most downtrodden franchises. Oklahoma City and Charlotte meet at Thomas & Mack Center at 6:00 PM ET on ESPN with a championship berth on the line.

Charlotte secured the third seed after demolishing San Antonio 106-81 on Thursday. The Thunder earned the second seed with their own impressive 95-81 victory over New Orleans on Wednesday.

The winner faces either Toronto or Sacramento in Sunday’s championship game at 10:00 PM ET.

Hornets vs Thunder Prediction

Charlotte has been the most entertaining team in Las Vegas. They’re averaging a tournament-high 100 points per game while shooting 36.4% from three on heavy volume. This isn’t your typical Hornets squad that finds new ways to lose.

Kon Knueppel showed why he was the fourth overall pick against San Antonio. The Duke product dropped 19 points with six assists while posting a game-high plus-26 rating. His confidence grows with each game.

Charlotte vs OKC Scoring Stats

KJ Simpson matches Knueppel’s production with 19.3 points per game. The second-year guard has taken a massive leap, shooting 45.5% from the field while adding 5.3 assists. Together, they form the tournament’s best backcourt.

Oklahoma City counters with championship DNA flowing through their Summer League roster. Brooks Barnhizer is standing out with 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. The 44th pick has been steady if unspectacular.

The Thunder’s biggest concern? Star guards Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topic both sat Wednesday’s game. Mitchell leads OKC with 20 points per game while Topic dishes 7.3 assists. Their status remains questionable for the semifinals.

Charlotte faces its own injury concerns. Liam McNeeley missed Thursday with an Achilles issue after averaging 18 points through three games. Tidjane Salaun also sat with Achilles soreness. Both are game-time decisions.

Even depleted, Charlotte has more offensive firepower. Damion Baugh provided 18 points off the bench against San Antonio. PJ Hall gives them interior scoring. The Hornets have six players averaging double figures.

Hornets vs Thunder Picks

• Hornets +3.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
• Over 186.5 (-110 at BetMGM)

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Because I’m predicting Charlotte’s offensive firepower to overwhelm an untested Thunder team, my picks are the Hornets plus the points and the over.

Oklahoma City hasn’t faced real competition yet. Their four victims have a combined 4-16 record. The Magic, Pelicans, and Nets all finished winless. Only Indiana provided any resistance in a 104-85 Thunder victory.

Charlotte has proven they can score against anyone. They’ve hit 111, 96, 87 and 106 points in four games. Even OKC’s solid defense won’t slow this Hornets attack completely when they’re shooting 36.4% from three.

The Thunder’s biggest stars might not even play. Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topic both sat Wednesday’s game. Without them, OKC loses significant playmaking and scoring punch.

Charlotte plays with joy and freedom rarely seen from this franchise. They’re moving the ball, hitting threes, and actually having fun. That energy matters in Summer League where motivation varies wildly.

Take the points and the over with the tournament’s most explosive offense.

Hornets vs Thunder Odds

The spread opened at Thunder -1.5 before moving to -3.5 as money poured in on OKC. Sharp bettors seem to believe Mitchell and Topic will play. The total has held steady at 186.5 despite Charlotte’s explosive offense.

These teams last met in March, with Oklahoma City winning 141-106. That regular-season result means nothing here. This Charlotte team actually tries on defense and moves the ball willingly.

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Odds as of July 19 at BetMGM. Get the BetMGM promo code, or browse top NBA betting apps for Summer League.