Despite being down eight men, the Charlotte Hornets put on a show against the New York Knicks. The home team led by as many as 10 points in the early going and kept it close the entire game before a late run by the Knicks sealed its loss.
New York's lead went up by six in the last minute, but the Hornets still managed to almost steal the victory. Several missed shots from the field and the charity stripe in the clutch doomed their chances, although you have to give it to the squad for being in the game even without five of its top six scorers this season.
Several factors buoyed Charlotte's near-win on Friday, including its defense that held the Knicks to 15 first-quarter points and fewer than 100 overall for only the second time this season.
Brandon Miller's gravity opened up the floor for his teammates
The Hornets also got some outstanding production from several players. Tidjane Salaun followed up his career night by showcasing his range once more, draining four 3-pointers en route to scoring 14. Moussa Diabate was a monster again on the boards, finishing with 11 rebounds, five coming off the offensive end.
Off the bench, KJ Simpson and Nick Smith Jr. were among the highlights. Simpson brought the energy, particularly on defense, as he complemented his career-high 11 points with two steals, one block, and a whole lot of hustle. Smith Jr. displayed his shot-creating potential and proved why numerous fans have wanted him to be featured more in rotation.
However, Brandon Miller also deserves a ton of credit, even if his inefficiency will certainly receive criticism. He finished the contest with 20 points and seven rebounds but shot just 7-25 from the field and 2-11 from beyond the arc. In addition, the sophomore swingman committed six turnovers, twice more than the assists he dished out. He continues to struggle with breaking down defenses, although he has a lot of time left to figure that out.
It was an uneven performance, for sure. But considering that the Knicks keyed their defense on him from the opening buzzer, it turned out to be a great outing from the 2024 Rookie of the Year finalist. And the fact that he finished with a plus/minus of +6, better than every Knicks player not named Cameron Payne, shows how he was able to open up the floor for his teammates
Miller's defense should also be recognized, as he registered three blocks, and his effort on that end of the court was evident.
The aspiring star and his squad would have likely wanted to go home with the dub. However, Charlotte should keep its chin up for bringing the fight to the Knicks on Friday.
