WATCH: Former Auburn star JT Thor hits game-winner in double overtime for Hornets
Former Auburn Tigers star JT Thor walked away the hero for the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night in their bout versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Thor hit the game-winning three-pointer in double overtime to lift Charlotte to an 89-86 victory in the Las Vegas Summer League.
Prior to their win late on Sunday night, the Hornets hadn’t won a Summer League game in three years and five days – notching their last one on July 5, 2019.
Coming off of a game where he had five points, five turnovers and six missed free throws, Thor stepped up with 12 points and three boards in 28 minutes played.
Charlotte finished out regular time on a 6-0 run to push overtime. The Hornets and Lakers both scored five points in the first overtime to move on to the second overtime period.
Former Creighton Bluejay Ty-Shon Alexander topped all scorers with 22 points coming off of the bench. Oregon alum LJ Figueroa was behind him with 16 points for the Hornets.
Thor, a 6-foot-9, 203-pound forward, went No. 37 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. The Detroit Pistons grabbed him in the second round but immediately traded him to the Hornets for the draft rights of Balsa Koprivica.
During the 2021-22 NBA season, Thor played in 33 games for the Hornets, who ended up finishing the year at 43-39. He averaged 7.9 minutes per game with 2 points, 1.3 rebounds and 43.6% shooting.
At Auburn, Thor started 27 games while averaging 23.3 minutes, 9.4 points per game and five rebounds. Despite his position, the forward went 22-74 from three-point range as a Tiger.
The Hornets’ next game is at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.