Oklahoma

Three Takeaways From OKC Thunder’s Blowout Loss to Hornets

Published

2 months ago

January 6, 2026

Three Takeaways From OKC Thunder’s Blowout Loss to Hornets

The Oklahoma City Thunder were shocked by the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night in Paycom Center, losing 124-97. This is OKC’s second loss in as many days, losing last night in Phoenix to the Suns 108-105.

The Thunder’s record is now 30-7 and they are 6-6 in their last 12 games. The No. 1 seed in the Western Conference is playing its worst stretch of basketball in over two years.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points on 7-of-21 shooting to keep his 20-point streak alive. OKC shot a rough 28.2% from three-point range and 66.7% from the charity stripe.

Here are three takeaways from the Thunder’s 27-point home loss.

Jan 5, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) shoots a three point basket as Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) defends during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

1. Inability to Make Shots

The glaring struggle for the Thunder tonight was on offense, with the team shooting 36.6% from the floor and 28.2% from three-point range. It’s difficult for any team to win shooting that poorly in a game.

The Thunder found open look after open look across the perimeter, but were unable to convert at a high rate. The Hornets were able to consistently help off of perimeter shooters to bring more defensive attention around Gilgeous-Alexander and inside the paint.

Poor shooting creates poor spacing and poor spacing creates ugly offensive execution. Poor spacing and shooting defined OKC’s woes against Charlotte.

Jan 5, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) shoots from under the basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

2. Young and Hungry Hornets

Charlotte was by far the more energetic team in its win, amped up on both ends from start to finish, flying in for every loose ball. The young team came in looking to send Loud City home unhappy and they succeeded.

The Thunder were on the back end of an away/home back-to-back, having to quickly fly in from Phoenix to prepare for the game. The Hornets smelt blood in the water early, taking the game from their very first run.

After the game was tied at 33 at the end of the first quarter, Charlotte blazed into a 23-7 run throughout a large part of the second quarter to grasp a firm control of the flow of the game. The Thunder’s struggling offense could not find any momentum to claw back into the hole they fell into.

Charlotte’s shooting performance was remarkable from distance. With a plethora of shots taken with great difficulty, the Hornets managed to shoot 51.4% from three-point range.

The Hornets came in hungry and caught the reigning champions by surprise.

Jan 5, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

3. Gilgeous-Alexander Keeps Streak Alive Amid Struggles

Gilgeous-Alexander scoring above 20 points, with 21, to keep his historic 20-point streak alive, is the lone positive from a rough loss. Despite struggling through constant full-court pressure and double teams from the Hornets, the reigning MVP was able to muster just enough to keep his hunt for the record alive.

Gilgeous-Alexander shot 7-of-21 from the floor and 1-of-6 from three in the loss, adding six assists to his totals. He was OKC’s only 20-point scorer on the night.

The Canadian’s streak of scoring 20-or-more points now sits at 108 games, 18 behind Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126.

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Oklahoma

Invasive black carp confirmed in Oklahoma after turning up in McCurtain County pond

Published

42 minutes ago

March 17, 2026

Press Room

Invasive black carp confirmed in Oklahoma after turning up in McCurtain County pond

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — An invasive fish species has been found in Oklahoma.

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife confirmed the first invasive black carp was found in the state.

Black carp are large fish native to East Asia that were imported to the United States in the 1970s as a control agent for snail pests in agricultural ponds.

The fish escaped captivity and made it to the Mississippi River basin, where they have wreaked havoc for decades, consuming and vying for habitat with native species.

ODWC confirmed the first report of a black carp was found within a private pond in McCurtain County.

Carp feed on mussels and snails and have the potential to “seriously impact” an already imperiled native mussel species, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.

The importation and possession of black carp is illegal in Oklahoma.

If you catch a black carp, ODWC said you need to kill it, keep it on ice, and report it to them.

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Oklahoma

How the INTEGRIS Health daycare closure compares to hundreds of other closures across Oklahoma

Published

13 hours ago

March 17, 2026

Press Room

How the INTEGRIS Health daycare closure compares to hundreds of other closures across Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy told News 9 this week that INTEGRIS Health’s decision to close its childcare programs this August shares similarities to and differences from the hundreds of other center closures around the state.

Integris Health announced earlier this week that it would end its childcare in August.

Joe Dorman, Chief Executive Officer for the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy said he is disappointed by the move, but not surprised.

“This was a wonderful thing the hospital provided, but ultimately they have to keep their doors open and cover for patients.”

With the rising costs of living and a reduction in subsidies, hundreds of childcare centers in Oklahoma have had to close their doors since last November.

“We’ve seen daycares shut down left and right that are private businesses, and this has really been the next line of what we’re seeing with those business-run childcares closing their doors,” Dorman shared.

When businesses are faced with cuts, he said, “this is one of those things that will go away first, because it was a benefit for the families. It wasn’t something that they viewed as an essential part of the work.”

Dorman said parents losing care from INTEGRIS Health face a growing problem – finding a new, licensed provider.

“It’s a struggle to find one that’s close to you, and then you have to look at the affordability. We have some families that simply can’t find one that’s affordable.”

Add in wait lists… Dorman compared the cost of childcare to the cost of college.

“We’ve seen individuals who have had to quit their jobs just because they can’t afford childcare.”

Dorman acknowledged in some situations, older kids miss school to watch younger siblings.

He added that he expects more closures from private pay and employer-run daycares.

“That’s going to be a cut back that many businesses will consider.”

Anyone struggling to find childcare should contact their state representative, Dorman finished.

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Oklahoma

How to buy Oklahoma City March Madness tickets

Published

1 day ago

March 16, 2026

Press Room

How to buy Oklahoma City March Madness tickets

March Madness has officially arrived.

It’s a quick turn-around as the 68 teams in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament learned their fate on Sunday night and some will play as quickly as Tuesday, March 17.

Eight teams will head to Oklahoma City for the first round of the NCAA Tournament beginning on Thursday, March 19, while the rest head to their host site for the first and second round games.

Here is everything you need to know in order to buy March Madness tickets in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City March Madness tickets

Tickets for the First and Second Round are already available. Tickets are sold in packages, either for Thursday evening, Saturday evening, or an all-session pass to all six games in OKC.

OKC First Round Session I tickets

Tickets for Session I include tickets to No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy and No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt on Thursday afternoon. Thursday afternoon tickets start at $127.

OKC First Round Session II tickets

Tickets for Session I include tickets to No. 10 Texas A&M vs. No. 7 St. Mary’s and No. 15 Idaho vs. No. 2 Houston on Thursday evening. Thursday night tickets start at $42.

OKC Second Round March Madness

A ticket for Saturday March Madness in Oklahoma City permits entry to both Round of 32 games, featuring all four winners from Thursday’s action. Saturday March Madness OKC tickets start at $173.

Oklahoma City All-Session tickets

If you want to see all the games in Oklahoma City, an all-access pass gets you the same lower-level seat for all four games. Oklahoma City March Madness passes start at $674.

Shop OKC All-Sessions passes

OKC March Madness teams

The following eight teams will play in OKC on Thursday evening. The winners will advance to the Round of 32 and play their next games on Saturday, March 21.

OKC March Madness schedule

The First Round games will take place on Thursday, March 19, with Second Round games taking place on Saturday, March 21. Here are the schedule tipoff times for the March Madness games in Oklahoma City:

No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy at 12:40 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 19 – Shop tickets
No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt at 3:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 19 – Shop tickets
No. 10 Texas A&M vs. No. 7 St. Mary’s at 7:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 19 – Shop tickets
No. 15 Idaho vs. No. 2 Houston at 10:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 19 – Shop tickets

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Where to stay in OKC for March Madness

When does March Madness start?

See below for the entire schedule for the men’s NCAA Tournament:

First Four: March 17-18
Round of 64: March 19-20
Round of 32: March 21-22
Sweet 16: March 26-27
Elite 8: March 28-29
Final Four:April 4
National Championship: April 6

Shop ALL March Madness tickets

March Madness Round of 64 schedule

Thursday, March 19 – No. 9 TCU vs. No. 8 Ohio State – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 13 Troy vs. No. 4 Nebraska – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 11 USF vs. No. 6 Louisville – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 12 High Point vs. No. 5 Wisconsin – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 16 Siena vs. No. 1 Duke – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 12 McNeese vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 14 North Dakota State vs. No. 3 Michigan State – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 13 Hawaii vs. No. 4 Arkansas – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 11 VCU vs. No. 6 North Carolina – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – UMBC/Howard vs. No. 1 Michigan – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – Texas/NC State vs. No. 6 BYU – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 10 Texas A&M vs. No. 7 St. Mary’s – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 14 Pennsylvania vs. No. 3 Illinois – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 9 St. Louis vs. No. 8 Georgia – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 14 Kennesaw State vs. No. 3 Gonzaga – Get tickets now
Thursday, March 19 – No. 15 Idaho vs. No. 2 Houston – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 10 Santa Clara vs. No. 7 Kentucky – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 12 Akron vs. No. 5 Texas Tech – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 16 Long Island University vs. No. 1 Arizona – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 14 Wright State vs. No. 3 Virginia – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 15 Tennessee State vs. No. 2 Iowa State – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 13 Hofstra vs. No. 4 Alabama – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 9 Utah State vs. No. 8 Villanova – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – Miami (OH)/SMU vs. No. 6 Tennessee – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 8 Clemson – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 12 Northern Iowa vs. No. 5 St. John’s – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 10 UCF vs. No. 7 UCLA – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 15 Queens University vs. No. 2 Purdue – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – Prairie View/Lehigh vs. No. 1 Florida – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 13 Cal Baptist vs. No. 4 Kansas – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 15 Furman vs. No. 2 UConn – Get tickets now
Friday, March 20 – No. 10 Missouri vs. No. 7 Miami – Get tickets now