Hornets demolish Nets 117-86 behind Brandon Miller’s 25-point performance
Mar 31, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) brings the ball up court against the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Charlotte Hornets delivered a statement performance on Tuesday night, dismantling the Brooklyn Nets 117-86 at Barclays Center to extend one of the most remarkable seasons in franchise history. Brandon Miller led the charge with 25 points, while Miles Bridges contributed 19 points in a dominant display that saw Charlotte improve to 40-36.
Miller’s explosive start sets the tone
The Hornets wasted no time establishing control, racing to a commanding 35-18 lead after the first quarter behind Miller’s scorching shooting. The young star scored 16 points in the opening frame on perfect 5-of-5 shooting, including three 3-points, as Charlotte shot an impressive 54.5% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.
LaMelo Ball orchestrated the offensive symphony with 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, playing to an adoring crowd by throwing no-look passes and shooting increasingly creative 3-points with his trademark nonchalance. Ball and Miller’s chemistry was on full display early, with Miller hitting a three off a Ball pass to make it 16-4 just five minutes into the game, both players laughing as they jogged back down court.
Nets unable to mount any resistance
Brooklyn briefly trimmed the deficit to 47-39 after rookie Drake Powell connected on a 3-pointer with 5:19 remaining in the second quarter, but that would be as close as they would get. Charlotte outscored the Nets 70-47 the rest of the way, completely taking control of the contest.
The Hornets’ balanced attack featured excellent ball movement with 28 assists on 41 made field goals, while they dominated the boards 56-41. Moussa Diabaté provided a strong interior presence with 10 points and 12 rebounds, helping Charlotte match their season low for points allowed – they also held an opponent to 86 points in a December 5th victory at Toronto.
For the lottery-bound Nets (18-58), Josh Minott led all Brooklyn scorers with 14 points, while Chaney Johnson added 11 points off the bench. The loss marked Brooklyn’s 11th defeat in their last 12 games and their eighth loss by at least 30 points this season, surpassing the previous franchise record of five such losses.
The victory stopped a two-game losing streak for Charlotte, who had suffered consecutive home defeats to Philadelphia and Boston over the weekend. Now tied with Miami for ninth in the Eastern Conference at 40-36, the Hornets sit just a half-game behind Orlando as they continue their push toward the playoffs.
Comments (0)