The Charlotte Hornets delivered one of their most explosive performances of the season Tuesday night, rolling past the Chicago Bulls 131-99 at United Center.
Charlotte shot 51.6% from the field and connected on 25 of 57 attempts from 3-point range, one shy of the franchise record. The victory marked a team-record eighth consecutive road win.
Brandon Miller led the way with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including five 3-pointers. Kon Knueppel added 21 points and went 3-of-6 from deep, reaching 200 career 3-pointers in his 58th game, the fastest player to hit that mark.
LaMelo Ball scored 16 points and dished out seven assists, while Miles Bridges added 16 points in his return from a four-game suspension. Moussa Diabate contributed nine points, seven rebounds and five assists in the starting lineup.
The Hornets broke the game open in the third quarter. They outscored Chicago 42-16 in the period and used a 22-2 run to turn a one-point halftime edge into a decisive lead.
Knueppel sparked the surge with back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the quarter and scored 10 straight points. Miller followed by hitting three consecutive shots, pushing the margin to 88-65.
Charlotte finished with 31 assists and 46 rebounds while committing 16 turnovers. The visitors also recorded 13 steals and eight blocks, converting defense into transition opportunities.
Coby White made his Hornets debut against his former team after being traded at the deadline. He scored 10 points in 15 minutes and received a video tribute from the crowd during his return to Chicago, where he spent six and a half seasons.
The Bulls lost their 10th straight game, matching their longest skid since January 2019. Chicago fell to 24-33 and struggled to contain the perimeter, allowing 44% shooting from beyond the arc.
Matas Buzelis delivered a career-high 32 points on 13-of-19 shooting, including six 3-pointers. Patrick Williams and Guerschon Yabusele each added 11 points.
Turnovers proved costly for the home side. The Bulls committed 19, leading to extra possessions and open looks for Charlotte’s shooters.
Chicago shot 43% overall and 16-of-40 from 3-point range, but the third-quarter collapse erased any chance of a comeback. The Hornets’ 25 made 3-pointers and balanced scoring overwhelmed the defense.
Charlotte, now 27-31, travels to Indiana on Thursday. Chicago returns home to face Portland the same night.
