The Charlotte Hornets, fresh off a tough loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, faced another formidable challenge on New Year's Eve morning, squaring off against the Golden State Warriors and their iconic Charlotte-born star, Steph Curry. While the result was a 132-125 defeat, dropping the Hornets' season record to 11-22, the game revealed a significant and promising development for the franchise's future.
Brandon Miller's Transformative Season
For fans and analysts, the most compelling story in Charlotte this season is the all-around growth of Brandon Miller. Long seen as a pure scorer, the 2023 draft pick is rapidly expanding his game. The most notable improvement is in his playmaking. According to Sports Illustrated, Miller's assist rate has surged to 18.0 percent, placing him in the 89th percentile—or the top tier—of all NBA wing players. Basketball-Reference's data is even more optimistic, crediting him with an strong>18.5 percent assist rate.
This isn't just a minor stat bump. It signals Miller's evolution into a genuine offensive hub, a player who can create for others as well as score for himself. This development is crucial for a Hornets team that has desperately needed more creators on the floor. His 19-point first-half performance against the Warriors was a testament to his scoring, but his improved vision and passing are what could redefine his career and the team's long-term trajectory.
Game Highlights: A Valiant Comeback Falls Short
The matinee game saw the return of rookie Kon Knueppel to the starting lineup after he missed the previous game with an ankle issue. Knueppel showed no rust, draining the first shot of the game—a corner three-pointer. However, the Warriors, led by Curry, began to build momentum towards the end of the first half.
That momentum turned into what seemed like a classic Warriors third-quarter avalanche. Golden State opened the second half on a 10-0 run, stretching their lead to 15 points. Just as the game threatened to slip away, LaMelo Ball took over. The Hornets' star guard scored 12 points in the third quarter, hitting all four of his three-point attempts, and fueled a massive 36-19 run that flipped the script. By the end of the quarter, the Warriors' 15-point lead was whittled down to just 2 points.
The final period, however, belonged to the Warriors' veteran prowess. While attention was on stars like Curry and Jimmy Butler, it was Brandin Podziemski who scored nine crucial points early in the fourth to rebuild an eight-point lead for Golden State. The Hornets fought back valiantly, cutting the deficit to four with under a minute left, but facing a closing lineup of Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green proved too tall an order.
Roster Notes and Looking Ahead
The game also marked the first absence of the season for forward Miles Bridges, making Sion James the only Hornet to have appeared in every game so far. Miller's own journey has been hampered by injuries since his draft, disrupting his rhythm and chemistry with teammates. His current healthy stretch and on-court development are therefore even more vital.
Despite the loss, the Hornets can find a silver lining in the continued emergence of Brandon Miller as a complete player. His progression from a 'bucket-getter' to a multifaceted playmaker provides a concrete foundation for the team's rebuilding efforts. While the record may not show it yet, such individual growth is essential for the Hornets' long-term prospects in the competitive NBA landscape.
