CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a dramatic finish, Brandon Miller scored off an offensive rebound just as time expired, propelling the Charlotte Hornets to a narrow 108-107 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday evening.
The Hornets broke a three-game losing streak with standout performances from Miles Bridges, who scored 27 points, and LaMelo Ball, who contributed 25 points, including five three-pointers. Miller concluded the game with 19 points, proving to be pivotal in the final moments.
On the other side, the Pistons witnessed Cade Cunningham achieving a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Jaden Ivey also added 21 points to Detroit’s efforts.
The tension escalated as Miller’s late-game putback came after a significant turnover, where he was trapped by a double team. The Pistons capitalized when Ronald Holland snatched the ball and drove down the court for a layup, taking the lead with just 6.3 seconds remaining, which left the home crowd in shock.
However, in a last-ditch effort, Miller seized a missed three-pointer from Grant Williams and skillfully scored off the glass to secure the win, leading to a jubilant celebration with his teammates.
Key insights from this game highlight the Pistons had a considerable size advantage initially due to the absence of Hornets centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards. However, when Detroit’s Jalen Duren exited the game early in the first quarter due to an ankle injury, the advantage was significantly reduced.
The Hornets came into the season counting on Ball, Miller, and Bridges to lead their offense, and for the first time this season, the trio all delivered impressive performances simultaneously. A notable moment unfolded when Ball nailed a step-back 3-pointer with 55 seconds left, swinging the momentum back to Charlotte, followed by a driving layup that extended their lead to 106-103 just seconds later.
A noteworthy statistic from the match was that the Pistons managed to dish out a total of 34 assists throughout the game.
Looking ahead, the Pistons are set to host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, while the Hornets will face off against the Indiana Pacers at home.