Brandon Miller's 39-Point Statement Pushes Hornets to 3-1 Start

Tue, October 27, 2026 at 12:14 AM

CHARLOTTE - Brandon Miller did not need long to remind the NBA that Charlotte's new era runs through him.

One week after reportedly securing a five-year, $209 million extension, Miller turned Spectrum Center into his own launchpad Monday night, pouring in a career-high 39 points as the Charlotte Hornets beat the Washington Wizards 110-103. The win moved Charlotte to 3-1, a sharp early statement for a franchise trying to turn offseason change into real momentum.

This was not just a hot shooting night. It was a responsibility game. With Coby White, Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams still sidelined, the Hornets needed Miller to operate like a franchise centerpiece, not just a talented scorer. He answered by taking control through the middle of the game, attacking gaps, rising into jumpers and giving Charlotte the late bucket it needed when Washington made its final push.

The Associated Press recap carried by CBS Sports credited Miller with 27 points across the second and third quarters, the stretch that flipped the game from a tight early contest into one Charlotte controlled. Washington did not disappear. The Wizards cut what had been a 14-point Hornets lead down to 103-100 with 1:13 left, but Miller steadied the night with a jumper and then added a late free throw as Charlotte closed it out.

Miller Looks Like the Centerpiece Charlotte Paid For

The timing matters. Miller's extension, reported by NBA.com and the AP as a five-year, $209 million agreement, placed him firmly at the center of Charlotte's future. Monday's performance made that investment feel less like a projection and more like a live preview.

Miller finished with 39 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks while shooting 15-for-28 from the field and 5-for-10 from three-point range. That is the type of two-way production that changes how opponents have to defend Charlotte. He was not just hunting threes. He scored in rhythm, punished mismatches and stayed aggressive even when the Wizards threw late pressure at the Hornets' ballhandlers.

For a team that moved into a post-LaMelo Ball chapter over the summer, Miller's growth is the central storyline. The Hornets' June trade sending Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota brought back Naz Reid, draft capital and flexibility, but it also made the franchise's direction unmistakable: Miller and the next wave have to carry the climb.

Monday night offered an encouraging answer. Miller did not simply lead the box score. He gave Charlotte the kind of late-game poise that young teams often have to learn through mistakes.

Naz Reid and Moussa Diabaté Give Charlotte the Edge Inside

Charlotte did not shoot the Wizards out of the building. The Hornets hit 12 of 39 from three and finished at 43.3 percent overall, according to the CBS Sports box score. The separation came on the glass.

The Hornets outrebounded Washington 59-47 and grabbed 20 offensive boards, a major reason they survived a fourth-quarter Wizards rally. Reid added 18 points and 12 rebounds, continuing to give Charlotte a sturdier frontcourt presence in the early weeks of the season. Moussa Diabaté was even more active around the rim, finishing with 11 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks.

That interior work was especially important because Washington had enough star power to make the game uncomfortable. Anthony Davis posted 29 points and 10 rebounds, while Trae Young added 22 points and 10 assists. Kyshawn George chipped in 20 points for a Wizards team that kept swinging late.

Still, Charlotte's physicality created extra possessions and forced Washington to play from behind for much of the second half. In a game where the Hornets' offense did not always flow cleanly - they had only 17 assists - the rebound battle became the difference.

Winning While Short-Handed Is the Bigger Signal

The Hornets are not whole yet. NBA.com previously reported that Knueppel, White and Williams had returned to individual on-court activity while rehabbing their injuries, but all three have yet to play this regular season. That makes the 3-1 start more meaningful than the record alone.

Charlotte has already shown it can win in different ways. The Hornets opened the season with a road win, bounced back from a home-opener stumble, beat Miami, and now handled a Washington team that nearly stole the game late. For a group still figuring out roles after a major roster reset, that is a strong opening week.

The caution is obvious: it is still October. The Hornets will see better defensive teams, longer road trips and nights when Miller's jumper is not as clean. But the early identity is becoming easier to see. Charlotte wants to play through Miller's shot creation, lean on Reid's versatility, crash the boards and stay connected enough defensively to survive runs.

That formula held Monday. When Washington's late threes tightened the room, Charlotte did not fold. Miller took the ball, made the right play and closed the night like the franchise player the Hornets believe he can become.

The next test comes Wednesday on the road against Detroit. If Monday was any indication, the Hornets are no longer just trying to look promising. They are trying to bank wins while the rest of the roster gets healthy - and Miller is making sure the league notices.