Brandon Miller led the Charlotte Hornets to a decisive 110-87 victory over the injury-stricken Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. Miller scored 23 points, while Tidjane Salaun made a significant impact off the bench with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while Collin Sexton added 14 points and five assists. LaMelo Ball also made his presence felt with 10 points, six assists, and three steals.
Miller’s stellar performance continues a remarkable run, as he has averaged 25.7 points over the last three games. This win was particularly important for the Hornets, who had recently struggled with a record of 1-9 against the Nuggets in their last ten encounters. Prior to this game, Charlotte had lost four of their last six matchups.
The Nuggets faced a tough challenge, missing five of their top eight scorers due to injuries, including star center Nikola Jokic and forward Aaron Gordon. These absences significantly affected Denver’s performance, leading to season lows in both points scored (87) and three-point percentage (21.1%). Despite being the league leaders in points per game and shooting percentages, the team could not find their rhythm against a fired-up Hornets squad.
Charlotte took control early, racing to a 29-11 lead and extending it to 60-34 by halftime, with Miller leading the charge. The Hornets built a lead as large as 33 points in the second half before the Nuggets made a late push. Jamal Murray was the standout for Denver, scoring 16 points, though he ended his impressive three-game streak of 30-plus point games.
Looking ahead, the Hornets will return home to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, while the Nuggets are set to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Charlotte’s victory brings a renewed sense of optimism for the team as they look to build momentum moving forward.