CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On the second Hornets possession, the Thunder was ready.
Terrance Ferguson ended up defending Hornets All-Star Kemba Walker after an offensive rebound, but the 20-year-old was in front of a couple of attempts by Walker to penetrate. When Ferguson forced Walker to pass, Russell Westbrook and Paul George closed quickly to their assignments on the 3-point line.
You can't completely take away a team's willingness to shoot the 3-pointer. But just as important is contesting the shot and running a team off the line.
The Hornets entered Thursday's game averaging 34.