NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — The NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder are coming to North Charleston to play the Charlotte Hornets, each organization announced in a preseason schedule release Monday.
Charlotte will play Oklahoma City at the North Charleston Coliseum on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. They will then match up against the Memphis Grizzlies at Greensboro's First Horizon Coliseum on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m.
Tickets for each context will go on sale Wednesday, July 16. They will be available online through the Hornets website or each venue's website.
“We’re always looking to foster new and existing fan engagement throughout the Carolinas, so with Spectrum Center renovations nearing completion in early October, this is the perfect opportunity to host our preseason games in outer markets,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment Chief Marketing Officer Seth Bennett. “The Hornets are the NBA team of the Carolinas. We’re excited for fans in Charleston and Greensboro to experience the excitement of a home game, while deepening our visibility, connection and impact within each community.”
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The Hornets' full preseason schedule, including the local preseason broadcast schedule, is set to be released at a later date.
As for the NBA champs, the Thunder, after playing the Hornets, will take on the Dallas Mavericks in Fort Worth, Texas.
Oklahoma then returns to Paycom Center for the team’s preseason home debut vs. the Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 9. The Thunder hits the road again to face the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 11 and the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 14 before concluding exhibition play with a home match-up versus the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 17.
Opening the preseason in North Charleston grants NBA fans in South Carolina a chance to see reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was recently named Finals MVP after averaging 30.3 points and 5.6 assists per game against the Indiana Pacers.