Ball, Bridges Both Score 25+ PTS, Charlotte Wins Glass, Cuts Down on Turnovers and Fouling

By Sam Perley

In the final nine-and-a-half seconds of Wednesday night’s home game against the Detroit Pistons, Brandon Miller made two momentous plays that couldn’t have been more different from one another. Luckily for the Charlotte Hornets, it was his second-chance buzzer-beating layup which sent the crowd into a frenzy that will be remembered in the thrilling 108-107 win. 

Top Performers: Miles Bridges busted out of a small shooting slump for a season-high-tying 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting – 9-of-9 from the free-throw line – seven rebounds and two assists. Right behind him was LaMelo Ball with 25 points – 15 in the fourth quarter – six rebounds and eight assists, while Miller totaled 19 points, six rebounds and four assists.   

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham notched his second consecutive triple-double and the fourth of his NBA career, finishing with 20 points – 12 in the first quarter – on 9-of-23 shooting and game highs in both rebounds (10) and assists (10). In just this third appearance of the year, Paul Reed stepped up with a season-high 13 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting in only 12 minutes.

Turning Point: A game where neither team ever led by double digits was tied at 101-101 with exactly two minutes remaining. Following a pair of Jaden Ivey free throws and five unanswered points from Ball, Ivey flushed home an uncontested driving dunk to pull the Pistons back to within one with 24 seconds to go. Detroit used its foul to give on the inbounds and then on Charlotte’s second attempt, forcefully double-teamed Miller, causing a turnover and an ensuing fast-break layup from rookie Ron Holland II. But Miller soon got redemption on Charlotte’s final possession, boxing out Malik Beasley for the offensive rebound off Grant Williams’ missed 3-pointer, which he immediately banked right back in for the win before time expired. 

What a Scene at Spectrum Center

Before tonight, the Hornets’ most recent buzzer-beater was Terry Rozier’s step-back jumper against Golden State on Feb. 20, 2021, in a virtually empty arena. And prior to Jeremy Lamb’s half-court miracle in Toronto in March of 2019, the team’s last buzzer beater when trailing was a driving layup courtesy of Kemba Walker to beat New York all the way back on Dec. 5, 2014. 

Size Difference Levels Out

Detroit’s size advantage took a blow shortly after tipoff, when center Jalen Duren suffered a left ankle injury that limited him to seven minutes. While the Pistons still had bruiser Isaiah Stewart, Reed and a big-bodied guard in Cunningham, Charlotte won the glass, 47-46, against the NBA’s top rebounding team, with that last tie-breaking board certainly being the most impactful.

Hornets Hardly Pay the Turnover Tax

Committing a season-low 12 turnovers was already pleasing enough for Charlotte. Even better was conceding only five measly Detroit points off them, granted two came on that late Holland bucket. Already averaging the fifth-fewest points off turnovers (14.6) of any NBA team coming into the game, this performance certainly isn’t going to help Detroit’s ranking in this category.

Postgame Quote

“I love that [Brandon] was able to make that game-winning play. It was a cool moment to see it all come together [after] he turned it over in a crucial moment. To find the composure, the poise, the confidence and the resilience to just battle back and continue to fight, it doesn’t surprise me. That’s who Brandon Miller is. When that’s the type of guy, mentality and mindset, he’s going to really help this organization continue to build sustainable success. I’m super proud of him and super proud of the whole team to keep fighting.” – Hornets Head Coach Charles Lee

What’s Next?

The Hornets will close out their short two-game homestand against the visiting Indiana Pacers on Friday, Nov. 8 beginning at 7 PM ET on the FanDuel Sports Network. These two sides split the season series last year, with both going 1-1 at home.