Hornets vs. Thunder prediction: Oklahoma City favored to win Monday's NBA matchup [1/5/2026]

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets will lock horns in NBA action at Paycom Center on Monday, starting at 8:00 PM ET.

Based on updated simulation results and today’s injury reports, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Thunder as the most likely winner of the Hornets vs. Thunder game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Thunder lineup will feature players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, while the Hornets will rely on Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel.

This article offers further insights into Monday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Hornets vs. Thunder prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using innovative machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Monday's NBA game between the Hornets and Thunder 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model currently gives the Thunder an 87% chance of defeating the Hornets. Our predicted final score has the Thunder winning 124-110.

According to our model, the Hornets (+15.5) have a 58% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 235.5 points has a 51% chance of staying under.

Hornets vs. Thunder odds

We have sourced the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Hornets	Thunder
Spread	+15.5 (-106)	-15.5 (-105)
Moneyline	+750	-1050
Total	o235.5 (-108)	u235.5 (-110)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Hornets vs. Thunder picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Spread	Hornets +15.5	-106
Moneyline	Hornets	+750
Total	Under 235.5	-110

According to our best NBA bets for Monday, the top play to make on this game is Hornets +15.5 at the spread.

Hornets vs. Thunder player props

NBA prop bets are an enjoyable way to wager on the Hornets vs. Thunder game without necessarily betting on the outcome. We have crunched the numbers to project how each team's leading players will perform at Paycom Center.

Brandon Miller is expected to lead the Hornets with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is projected to have 31 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the Thunder.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Hornets prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Hornets are:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Brandon Miller	19	5	3	3	36
Miles Bridges	19	7	3	2	36
Kon Knueppel	18	5	3	4	33
LaMelo Ball	18	5	6	3	38
Collin Sexton	12	2	3	1	22

Thunder prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Thunder:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
S. Gilgeous-Alexander	31	5	7	2	54
Jalen Williams	19	5	6	1	40
Chet Holmgren	18	8	2	2	37
Ajay Mitchell	13	3	4	1	28
Aaron Wiggins	10	3	2	2	20

Hornets vs. Thunder game-day updates and essential details

Monday's matchup between the Thunder and Hornets at Paycom Center is scheduled to commence at 8:00 PM ET.

• Who: Charlotte Hornets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
• Date: Monday, January 5, 2026
• Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
• Venue: Paycom Center

Conclusion

We predict the Thunder, with an 87% win probability, will likely beat the Hornets on Monday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander projected for a game-high 54 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Hornets vs. Thunder insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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