The Charlotte Hornets are headed to the NBA Summer League championship game after a commanding 109-80 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Saturday’s semifinal matchup.
Charlotte set the tone early, never trailing and winning every quarter. The Hornets built a lead that ballooned to as many as 34 points, fueled by overwhelming paint scoring (46-22 advantage) and efficient bench contributions.
Oklahoma City struggled to keep pace, with no lead changes throughout the contest and key players sidelined for the tournament. Branden Carlson led the Thunder with 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Hornets, now 5-0 in Las Vegas, advance to the Summer League finals for a shot at their first championship on Sunday. The convincing semifinal win further showcases the franchise’s young talent and signals a potential turning point as they seek momentum for the upcoming NBA season.
Charlotte will face the Sacramento Kings. “I’m so proud of the guys and as an organization -- high character, extremely competitive, super together,” said coach Joshua Longstaff.