Brandon Miller delivered an efficient scoring performance Tuesday night as the Charlotte Hornets rolled past the Brooklyn Nets 117-86 at Barclays Center.
Miller scored 25 points to lead Charlotte, helping the Hornets improve to 40-36 and remain firmly in the Eastern Conference play-in race. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak and moved Charlotte level with the Miami Heat for ninth place, just half a game behind the Orlando Magic.
The forward set the tone early with a dominant first quarter. Miller scored 16 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting stretch, including three 3-pointers, as Charlotte surged to a 35-18 lead.
Charlotte maintained control the rest of the night behind balanced scoring and strong ball movement. The Hornets finished with 28 assists on 41 made field goals and outrebounded Brooklyn 56-41.
Miles Bridges contributed 19 points and five rebounds, while LaMelo Ball added 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Ball consistently pushed the tempo and created open looks throughout the game.
Moussa Diabate anchored the interior with 10 points and 12 rebounds. His activity on the glass helped Charlotte generate second-chance opportunities and limit Brooklyn’s offensive rebounds.
The Hornets shot 47 percent from the field and converted 23 of 25 free throws. Charlotte also matched its season low for points allowed, holding Brooklyn to just 86 points.
Charlotte previously allowed 86 points in a 25-point victory at Toronto on Dec. 5, making Tuesday’s defensive performance one of its most efficient of the season.
Brooklyn briefly cut into the deficit during the second quarter. Drake Powell hit a 3-pointer with 5:19 remaining in the half to trim the margin to 47-39.
That momentum did not last long. Charlotte regained control and outscored the Nets 70-47 the rest of the way.
The Nets struggled to generate consistent offense, shooting 38 percent from the field and just 7-of-35 from beyond the arc. Brooklyn also finished with only 14 assists compared to Charlotte’s 28.
Josh Minott led Brooklyn with 14 points off the bench. Ziaire Williams, Drake Powell and Nolan Traore each scored 10 points, but the Nets never mounted a sustained rally.
Brooklyn’s loss continued a difficult stretch late in the season. The Nets, now 18-58, have dropped 11 of their last 12 games and remain positioned near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
Charlotte also received key bench contributions. Coby White scored 16 points and Grant Williams added 10, giving the Hornets additional scoring depth.
The strong start proved decisive as Charlotte maintained a double-digit lead for most of the night.
The Hornets return home Thursday to host the Phoenix Suns as they continue their push for postseason positioning. Brooklyn will try to halt its skid Friday when it hosts the Atlanta Hawks.
