Hornets right at home
Hornets 105, Thunder 80 OKC falls to team that once occupied its arena

BY MIKE BALDWIN
Published: November 22, 2008

Chris Paul and the Hornets received a warm ovation during pre-game introductions. Fans even oohed and aahed a few times when Paul schooled the Thunder’s defense.


Chris Paul of New Orleans get tangled up with Nick Collison of Oklahoma City during the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Hornets at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City on Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN

Featured Video

Advertisement

But Oklahoma City fans let it be known they support the Thunder ... even if they’re the worst team in the NBA one month into the season.

The Hornets, who played two seasons in the Ford Center, romped to a 105-80 win Friday night inside their old home, extending the Thunder’s losing streak to 10 games.

"You don’t feel good about yourself when you’re struggling,” said Thunder coach P.J. Carlesimo. "But the answer is you have to work your way out of it. No one is going to feel sorry for us. If anything, it goes the other way. People don’t want to lose to a team that’s struggling.”

The offense continues to be a disaster. Oklahoma City trailed 60-39 at halftime in large part because it had more turnovers the first half (14) than field goals (12). Oklahoma City finished with a season-high 26 turnovers and shot 36.6 percent from the field.

The Hornets, who played two seasons in Oklahoma City as a temporary home after Hurricane Katrina, arrived in a slump but led by as many as 32 points.

"It was a very special night,” Paul said. "We wanted to give the fans a show. We’ve been struggling, and it felt good to come back to OKC. We really needed this win.”

See Page 3C for more on Friday’s game.


Toolbar sponsored by: David Stanley Ford
Bookmark and Share


Your thoughts!

Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.

Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on local crime or fatality stories.

Leave a comment

Log in below or sign up (it's free).





1-81 sounds pretty good. I hope you like losing because that's the blunder forcast.
Never Lukewarm - Nov 22, 2008 at 6:39 pm
ha ha ha ha serves you right to steal a team away. Like the saying says you reap what you sow. YOu suck is the best words I can describe watching the Blunder play against the team you should have gotten.
Never Lukewarm - Nov 22, 2008 at 6:36 pm
You can always spot Fake Paul / TDawg / Fake Philip. He has to interject his sexuality somewhere in his comments.
Clay Bennett, Oklahoma City - Nov 22, 2008 at 3:50 pm
PJ did exactly what Clay hired him to do, Keep the Sonics a losing team to lessen the Seattle Fan Base. It was only a matter of time before PJ was gone, we was a piece in the game. Next come the trades and then unfortunately to the fans in OKC, the big name rookies become free agents and head to a more visible large market.
chris - Nov 22, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Don't lump me in with that lame Seattle gay activist fake Philip. He gets to live somewhere good. He's not stuck working at Tinker and living in this hellhole.
paul, yukon - Nov 22, 2008 at 10:55 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore paul
paul, phillip, get a life
Randy, Oklahoma City - Nov 22, 2008 at 9:34 am
Yep, there's no question that okaysee is the worst team in the league. They've solidified their position and let it be well known how bad they suck. On the bright side, they do fit right in with this state. This state ranks at the bottom of every quality of life issue, living here sucks, and the bassa'ball team sucks, so they've conformed to the okie/okaysee lifestyle extremely well....................
paul, yukon - Nov 22, 2008 at 6:09 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore paul
But Oklahoma City fans let it be known they support the Thunder ... even if they’re the worst team in the NBA one month into the season. Makes you wish you still had the rodeo. Nothing says Oklahoma better than men and animals!!!!
Clay Bennett, Oklahoma City - Nov 22, 2008 at 5:02 am
Jill... yank on the string and let it go. This is not our team, but something that can be called a playtoy for the rich. Please realize that your money is just making Clay richer, and this great state look more like Blue Collar Comedy.
Clay Bennett, Oklahoma City - Nov 22, 2008 at 4:54 am
This is soooo funny, Clay hired this guy now he has to explain it. Looks like the real dolt is Clay.
Clay Bennett, Oklahoma City - Nov 22, 2008 at 4:38 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Clay Bennett, Oklahoma City - Nov 22, 2008 at 4:35 am
P.J. Carlesimo Fired By Darnell Mayberry Staff Writer The Oklahoma City Thunder has fired coached P.J. Carlesimo, according to multiple league sources. It’s unclear who will replace Carlesimo on the bench on a permanent basis, but assistant coach Scott Brooks is believed to have been named the interim coach. Carlesimo guided last year’s Seattle SuperSonics to a franchise-worst 20-62 record in his first season with the team in 2007-08. The Thunder are a league-worst 1-12 three weeks into the season. Posted: 22 Nov, 2008
Larry, Oklahoma City - Nov 22, 2008 at 3:17 am
We could use a win too, Chris. But, I agree. The Thunder were far more warmly received than the Hornets, although the Hornets were very graciously welcomed. The Thunder may be losing, but they're our team, and the fans let them know it tonight. Anyone from another city who makes fun of this team has a short memory, because most NBA teams have stunk it up at one time or another.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Nov 22, 2008 at 1:26 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore Jill