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Recap/Analysis: Brandon Miller and LaMelo ball shine in win over Pistons

Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball combined for 73 points as the Charlotte Hornets survived their own collapse to win in overtime, 123-121.

The Summary

The Hornets got off to a strong start for the second straight game. LaMelo Ball single handedly forced the Hornets into the bonus with some relentless paint attacks, and the team built up a comfortable double digit margin within a few minutes. The Pistons got some of that back, but the Hornets led by six after one.

The Pistons wiped out the Hornets lead in the early parts of the second quarter and briefly took the lead for a spell. The Hornets responded with an 8-0 run to get some distance back. Miller and Ball combined for 21 points in the quarter, and the Hornets led by four at the break.

The Hornets pulled away in the third quarter and looked like they were on their way to a comfortable win. LaMelo got really aggressive attacking the basket and played with a little more physicality than we normally see from him. That got him going. He hit Cade Cunningham with a step back three then made whatever this is to put the Hornets up 20.

The Pistons went on a little run late in the quarter, but the Hornets still led by 14 after three.

It all fell apart in the fourth quarter. The Hornets looked like the worst version of themselves. They got reckless with the ball and looked hesitant to attack and move the ball on offense. The Pistons slowly crept back into the game as the Hornets kept handing them extra possessions, then a 10-0 run that featured Tobias Harris’s third open corner three of the quarter gave the Pistons a late lead. LaMelo tied the game with a floater, then both teams missed their attempts at game winners in the final seconds.

LaMelo Ball committed his sixth foul exactly one second into the overtime period. Isaiah Stewart was called for a foul on the opening jump ball, then Ball was called for a foul trying to prevent a steal on the ensuing inbound play. Tobias Harris made another corner three to open the scoring, but the Hornets finally locked back in after that. Brandon Miller swiped one of the wildest steals you’ll see, and Cody Martin and Tre Mann blocked the Pistons next two shot attempts.

Miller went on to seal the win with two tough threes and a tip-in in the closing minutes of the game.

The Good

The obvious starting point here is Brandon Miller. There’s been a lot of handwringing, including in this space, about the rough start to the season for Miller. He’s been an entirely different player the last two games. He scored a career high 38 points and filled out the stat sheet. But perhaps the best part of the night was seeing him take over as the team’s alpha in overtime after LaMelo fouled out. He scored eight straight in the middle of the overtime period, including two pivotal 3-pointers with the shot clock on his back. This is the Brandon Miller we were hoping to see in year two. Hopefully this version sticks around.

LaMelo Ball had some frustrating moments, but he still scored 35 points and dished out nine assists. He was the catalyst for the Hornets opening up a big lead in the third quarter, and the Hornets were at their best when he was on the floor. It seems the fourth quarter sit down was nothing more than a minor blip.

Moussa Diabate continues his modern day Dennis Rodman impression. He made zero shots from the field in 32 minutes, but he hunted down 16 rebounds (seven offensive) and swiped three steals. He got matched up in switches on the perimeter and put the clamps on.

Tidjane Salaün is looked more comfortable for the second straight game. He scored seven points in just 13 minutes, with two of those coming from free throws he earned on a coast to coast drive. He also showed some fight by briefly getting in the face of Simone Fontecchio after the latter gave him a little shove on a rebound.

Cody Martin keeps thriving. He scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half and made three of his four 3-point attempts.

After back to back games without a field goal, Josh Green has now averaged 10.8 points per game while shooting 9-of-11 from three over his last four games.

The Bad

The fourth quarter was a complete disaster. The Hornets turned the ball over seven times, with five of those the responsibility of LaMelo and Miller. Most of them were the pair just losing the ball on their own. There was also a Grant Williams turnover where he threw a cross court pass to about three Pistons. It was a very immature closing quarter. Luckily they were able to lock back in late and in overtime to pull out the win.

LaMelo Ball has stop committing frustration fouls. It was a big reason if not the main reason he sat down the stretch against the Nets on Tuesday. It cost him minutes again against the Pistons when he committed his third foul of the first quarter after a missed call against him on the other end. He managed his fouls well most of the rest of the game, but he keeps giving himself such small margins for error.

What’s Next

The Hornets head back out on the road to take on a Bucks team that is starting to win and is seeking revenge.

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