Brandon Miller scored 26 points, including two clutch free throws in the final seconds, to lead the Charlotte Hornets past the Indiana Pacers, 113-109, on Sunday night. The Hornets snapped an eight-game losing streak and improved to 7-17 on the season.
Miller added six rebounds and five assists, stepping up in the absence of key scorers LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Tre Mann.
Vasilije Micic contributed 18 points and nine assists for the Hornets, while Cody Martin chipped in 14 points and six rebounds. Nick Richards dominated the boards with 14 rebounds and added nine points.
Indiana was led by T.J. McConnell, who posted a career-high 30 points along with six assists. Jarace Walker added 15 points, but the Pacers fell to 10-15 after losing for the fifth time in their last six games.
The Hornets managed to shoot 51.3% from the field despite committing 24 turnovers. Their defensive effort was evident as they outrebounded Indiana 45-29, limiting the Pacers’ second-chance opportunities.
McConnell’s standout performance gave the Pacers a fighting chance, but missed opportunities from their starting lineup hindered their comeback efforts. Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin, and Tyrese Haliburton combined for just 29 points.
With 7.2 seconds left, Miller calmly sank two free throws to extend Charlotte’s lead to four, effectively sealing the win. The Pacers had cut the deficit to two moments earlier, but their last-ditch effort fell short.
Charlotte played without starting center Mark Williams, who is still recovering from a strained tendon in his left foot. The Hornets’ depth proved crucial, with contributions from their bench, including DaQuan Jeffries’ eight points and four rebounds.
Indiana’s poor rebounding and struggles from three-point range, shooting just 33.3%, compounded their woes. Their defensive lapses allowed the Hornets to hit 14 of 29 three-point attempts, a 48.3% clip.
