Hornets beat Wizards 110-103 as Brandon Miller scores a career-high 39 points

Brandon Miller picked a good night for the best scoring game of his career. The Charlotte Hornets forward scored 39 points, and Charlotte held off a fourth-quarter push from the Washington Wizards for a 110-103 win on Monday night, Oct. 26, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

The victory gave the Hornets three wins in their first four games, the Associated Press reported, and moved them to 3-1. Washington fell to 2-2.

Wizards vs. Hornets final score

Source: NBA official scorer’s report.

How the game turned

The start did not hint at a big offensive night for Charlotte. Washington led 21-19 after the first quarter as the Hornets shot 33.3% from the field and went 1 for 11 from 3-point range, according to the game report carried by ESPN 100.7 The Ticket.

Charlotte flipped it in the second quarter, outscoring the Wizards 35-23 to take a 54-44 lead into halftime. The Hornets stretched the margin to 12 heading into the fourth.

Washington did not fold. The Wizards scored 35 points in the final quarter and got as close as 103-100 late, but Charlotte closed it out. The Hornets’ biggest lead was 14, and Washington’s was four, per the official box score.

Brandon Miller’s career night

Miller made 15 of 28 shots, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, and went 4 of 5 at the line in a little over 36 minutes. He added six rebounds, three steals and two blocks, and Charlotte was plus-16 with him on the floor, the NBA box score shows.

His previous career high was 38 points against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 21, 2024. After rough shooting games to open the season, Miller has now topped 30 points in consecutive games.

Washington Wizards vs. Charlotte Hornets match player stats

Hornets leaders (per NBA.com):

• Brandon Miller: 39 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks
• Naz Reid: 18 points, 12 rebounds
• Grayson Allen: 15 points off the bench, 7 of 7 free throws
• Moussa Diabaté: 11 points, 17 rebounds (11 offensive), 3 blocks
• Dennis Schröder: 8 points, 5 assists

Wizards leaders (per NBA.com):

• Anthony Davis: 29 points on 11-of-22 shooting, 10 rebounds, 3 of 6 from 3
• Trae Young: 22 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds
• Kyshawn George: 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting
• Alex Sarr: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks

Why Charlotte won

The glass decided a lot of this one. Charlotte grabbed 20 offensive rebounds to Washington’s 10 and turned them into a 26-15 edge in second-chance points. Diabaté alone had 11 offensive boards.

Washington actually shot better, 48.2% to Charlotte’s 43.3%, and won the points in the paint 56-50. But the Hornets took 12 more field-goal attempts and made 12 3-pointers to the Wizards’ nine.

Other numbers that stood out:

• Young went 10 of 20 from the field but attempted just one free throw.
• Washington’s bench scored only 17 points; Charlotte’s scored 29.
• The teams combined for 32 free-throw attempts, and the Hornets were called for 15 fouls.

Injuries

Charlotte is still waiting on several key players. Starters Coby White (left calf) and Kon Knueppel (left hamstring) and reserve Grant Williams (right hamstring) have yet to play this season, the AP noted, and the Hornets have managed without them so far.

What’s next

Monday’s game wrapped up a three-game homestand for Charlotte. For Washington, the late rally was a positive sign, but rebounding will be a talking point after giving up 20 offensive boards.

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