Brandon Miller delivered a clutch putback at the buzzer to secure the Charlotte Hornets (3-5) a thrilling 108-107 victory over the Detroit Pistons (3-5) on Wednesday night. The sophomore’s game-winning shot helped the Hornets end a three-game losing streak and sent the crowd at Spectrum Center into a frenzy.
Miller finished with 19 points, but it was his final basket that defined the game. Just seconds earlier, he’d committed a costly turnover, leading to a go-ahead layup by Detroit’s Ronald Holland with 6.3 seconds left. However, Miller redeemed himself by grabbing the offensive rebound off Grant Williams’ missed three-pointer, banking it in as time expired.
Miles Bridges led Charlotte’s offense with 27 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 25 points, including five three-pointers. The combined efforts of Bridges, Ball, and Miller gave the Hornets a balanced attack, helping them maintain composure during the game’s critical moments.
Detroit kept the game close with strong performances from their young core. Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Jaden Ivey scored a team-high 21 points. Despite these efforts, the Pistons were unable to hold their lead in the closing seconds.
Ball played a pivotal role late in the fourth quarter, hitting a step-back three-pointer with 55 seconds left and following it up with a driving layup to put the Hornets up 106-103. This offensive burst seemed to shift momentum in Charlotte’s favor, but Detroit’s aggressive defense forced Miller’s late turnover, allowing Holland to momentarily take the lead for the Pistons.
In addition to Cunningham and Ivey, Detroit also benefited from impressive ball movement, totaling 34 assists on the night.
The Pistons came into the game with a size advantage, as Hornets centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards were out due to injury. However, their depth took a hit when Jalen Duren left in the first quarter with an ankle injury, limiting their inside presence for the remainder of the game.
