Brandon Miller scored 26 points on 10-of-10 shooting in the first half. He scored 32 in the game as the Charlotte Hornets won 124-115.
The Summary
The Hornets were unfathomably en fuego to start the game. The vets made 4-of-5 shots to start the game and prime the audience for the Brandon Miller show. He scored 17 straight Horntes points on movement threes and drives to the basket. That run was finally broken by a Grant Williams and-1. Miller finished the first with 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting. That outburst helped the Hornets to a lead that at one point was as large as 18. Tre Mann jumped a passing lane and hit a half court floater at the buzzer, but he let the ball go a split second too late. The Hornets led 38-23 after one.
Brandon Miller started the second quarter after a brief rest and drove in for an uncontested dunk 10 seconds in. He hit a three off a Grant Williams screen on the next possession. At that point 13 minutes into the game, Miller was 9-of-9 from the field and 5-of-5 from three with 24 points. He went quiet after that, and the Magic took advantage by going on a big run that cut the Hornets 19 point lead down into single digits. He shook free for a leak out to get his 10th straight made shot. It was the cap of a 7-0 Hornets run that helped the Hornets lead by 15 heading into halftime.
Miller finally missed his first shot when a pull-up mid range jumper came up short to start the second half. That would be the only shot he’d attempt all quarter long. The Magic tried to take advantage by trotting Paolo Banchero out for the entire third quarter. He scored 11 points to keep the Magic afloat, but the Hornets played the quarter to a standstill and still led by 15 heading into the fourth.
The Magic scored eight straight points to start the fourth quarter. Brandon Miller halted the run with a defensive stop on Cole Anthony and earning free throws on the other end. The Magic continued to force the issue and got as close as four points early in the fourth quarter, but Grant Williams and Davis Bertans scored 10 straight points to restore a 14 point lead. The visitors kept pushing on the Hornets, but the home team were able to answer every time the Magic started to get close. Miles Bridges hit a big 3-pointer and three free throws a few possessions later. Miller scored points 29 and 30 on a fast break layup in between. That gave the Hornets enough breathing room to close out the game, which they made more interesting with consecutive turnovers in the back court in the final minute.
The Good
Brandon Miller, of course. The shot making in the first quarter-plus of the game was something to dream on, as Eric Collins says. He was aggressive and confident, and his start to the game is probably the number one things you can point to as why the Hornets won the game.
The Hornets outside of Miller had one of their better shooting nights of the season. As a team, the Hornets shot 59.7% from the field and made 15-of-30 3-point attempts.
Miles Bridges, Grant Williams, Vasilije Micic, and Davis Bertans all had good games.
Aleksej Pokusevski played with more confidence than he has in recent games. He ended up with a nice 10 point showing off the bench.
The Bad
Brandon Miller only attempted three shots after his 10-of-10 start. The Magic devoted extra attention to him to keep the ball out of his hands, but you want to see him assert himself and stay aggressive regardless.
The Hornets almost canceled out their uncharacteristically accurate shooting with 18 turnovers. 12 of those came in the second half with the Hornets trying to hang onto their lead.
What’s Next
The Hornets have Saturday off before hosting the Thunder for an earlier tip on Sunday.
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