Game Recap: Hornets 109, Thunder 80
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• Hornets 109, Thunder 80: Box Score | Game Detail
Jaylen Sims poured in 25 points to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 109-80 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA 2K26 Summer League at Thomas and Mack Center on Saturday.
Sims shot a blistering 10-for-14 from the field, including 4-for-6 from deep on his way to a game-high scoring effort. Meanwhile, the Hornets had four other players score in double digits, including Kon Knueppel, who finished with 17 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. MJ Walker added 13 points and seven rebounds, and PJ Hall chipped in 12 points. Additionally, KJ Simpson came up big with eight points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
On the other side, the Thunder had four players score in double figures led by Erik Reynolds II, with 16 points. However, the team struggled from the field, shooting just 31.8 percent. Branden Carlson was the only Hornets player with more than five rebounds, as he finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
"We're really trying to build a winning culture with the Hornets, so it would mean a lot to us."
Jaylen Sims is looking forward to playing in the #NBA2KSummerLeague Championship Game tomorrow night 👏 https://t.co/AjobEJkYPF pic.twitter.com/oN9WcoLW2e
— NBA (@NBA) July 20, 2025
The Hornets imposed their will on the game from the start, as they led by seven points after one quarter. They doubled down in the second, outscoring the Thunder 29-17 in the frame to amass a 19-point lead at the break. The Hornets turned up the heat with 35 points in the third quarter, and while the Thunder could not keep up, they also delivered their highest-scoring quarter of the game, with 29 points. The Hornets carried a 25-point cushion into the final quarter and cruised to the finish.
The Hornets shot 53.4 percent from the field and did a good job making the most of their opportunities at the foul line, where they shot 18-for-23.
