The Charlotte Hornets came away with a nail-biting win on Wednesday night, as the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Brandon Miller’s putback buzzer beater vaulted the Hornets over the visiting Detroit Pistons 108-107.
Miles Bridges had a team-high 27 points and LaMelo Ball added 25 on five 3s for the Hornets, who halted a three-game losing skid. Miller finished with 19 points.
Cade Cunningham did a little bit of everything, collecting a triple-double for Detroit with 20 points, 10 boards and 10 assists. Jaden Ivey, who is having a coming out party in the early going of the seasons, added 21 points for the Pistons.
With the W, the Hornets improved to 3-5 on the young season. They are not fighting to be the top dog in the Eastern Conference as the Boston Celtics are, but this Hornets team has been playing an exciting brand of basketball and are enjoyable group to watch so far this season. That quality was on full effect on Wednesday night as Ball showed and showed out with a handful of spectacular highlights, including a half-court alley-oop to Miller in the third quarter.
After the great dish by Ball and Miller’s high-flying finish, Hornets fans took to social media and could not believe what they had seen.
Embed from Getty Images“LaMelo has been the most electric player in the league this season,” one fan posted on their social media platform. Another added, “I’m here to tell you right now, LaMelo Ball is the best player in the NBA.”
After his 2023-24 campaign was cut short by injuries, Ball is off to an unbelievable start to his 2024-25 campaign. He has improved his offensive game and been an elite weapon for the Hornets, averaging more than 28 points and six assists per game. He has also been a baller when it matters most, in the final frame for the Hornets, coming through nearly every time his team needs him to. On Wednesday night, Ball scored 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to help the Hornets get a much-needed win when they had to have it.
The Hornets’ fans are also excited and enthusiastic about what Miller can bring to the table. The beginning of his second season out of Alabama, has been a rollercoaster due to a hip injury, but he put 19 points on Wednesday to suggest that he is back at 100%. Miller was one of the best rookies in the NBA last season, averaging 17.4 points per game in just over 32 minutes a night.
Just like his idol Paul George, Miller showed the promise of a true three-level scorer as a rookie. His jump shot was smooth like butter, as he drilled 37.3% of his three-pointers, and he showed the uncanny ability to get to the rim and finish. He still has a long way to go as a playmaker and in some of the other aspects of his game, but he has a chance to be a special wing scorer alongside Ball that the Hornets need going forward.
On Friday night the Pistons host Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, while the Hornets host Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers.
