Refuse to reverse! Alexander made 7 of 9, Ball 15+5+4, the Thunder upgraded again, and are on track to win 2 consecutive championships.

On October 10, 2025, in the NBA preseason, the Thunder vs. the Hornets, the Thunder's Jaylen and Chet were absent, starting: Alexander + Wallace + Dort + Caruso + Harten, the Hornets starting: Ball + Miller + Tremain + Bridges + Diabate.

In the first quarter, Harten, Alexander, and Caruso responded 9-0. Ball, Diabate, and Bridges responded with a 9-0, and the two sides were tied. Caruso, Alexander, and Dort hit another 12-0, and the Thunder led 21-9. Sexton scored 12 points. Alexander, Barnheiser, and Isaiah Joe responded with a 10-point difference. After the first quarter, the Thunder led 31-21.

In the second quarter, Wiggins made a three-pointer and the Thunder led by 13 points. Bridges and Plumlee scored. Isaiah Joe, Wallace, Wiggins, and Barnheiser responded, and the point difference came to 20 points. , Tremain scored consecutively, and the point difference reached 12 points, Harten and Alexander scored, Knipur, Diabate, Miller, and Ball chased the points, and the point difference reached 4 points. Dort dunked 2+1, and the Thunder led 64-57 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Ball and Miller scored 5 points in a row, and the point difference was 2 points. Wallace, Isaiah Joe, and Wiggins scored. Miller and Ball caught up. The point difference was 5 points. Isaiah Joe, Barnheiser, and Lyons The point difference was widened to 14 points. Salon, Kniple and Kalkbrenner scored. Jaylin, Lyons and Youngblood responded. The point difference was 18 points. Bridges and Miller made 5 of 5 free throws. Wallace made a layup. After three quarters, the Thunder led 100-85.

In the fourth quarter, Wiggins and Jaylin scored, Diabate, Sexton, and Tremain chased the point difference, and the point difference reached 10 points. Jaylin made a layup, and McNealy, Diabate, and Knipoel chased the point difference, and Lyons and Gottman narrowed the gap. The score expanded to 6 points. Salon and Peterson chased the point difference to 1 point. Gottman, Barnheiser and Youngblood scored. Simpson and Kalkbrenner chased the point. The point difference was 4 points. Austin dunked and the Hornets missed consecutive three-pointers. At the end of the game, the Thunder defeated the Hornets 122-116 and refused to make a big comeback.

Alexander played 20 minutes, scoring 16 points, 1 rebound and 5 assists on 7 of 9 shots (2 of 2 three-pointers), with excellent efficiency. Isaiah Joe scored 19 of 5 of 8 shots (all three-pointers). With 2 rebounds, Wiggins had 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks, Wallace had 6 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals, Harten had 8 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists, rookie Barnheiser had 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, and Lyons had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Ball scored 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on 5-of-8 shots (4-of-6 three-pointers), 18 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists on 7-of-12 Tremain, 18 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists on 7-of-12 shots, Sexton had 15 points and 2 assists on 5-of-9 shots (3 of 5 three-pointers), Diabat had 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, Miller had 14 points and 3 assists, and Saron had 6 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks.

The Thunder won the championship last season. With the experience of winning the championship, they have become more terrifying. Many of their players are improving, and the depth of the lineup is even better. Although the Thunder are missing Jaylen and Chet in today's game, they can widen the point difference as long as they exert their strength. The Thunder are too strong. They are still the top favorites to win the championship in the new season, and they hope to achieve the feat of two consecutive championships.