Brandon Miller scored eight of his career-high 38 points in overtime, leading the Charlotte Hornets to a 123-121 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.
LaMelo Ball, who had been on the bench late in the Hornets’ loss to Brooklyn on Tuesday, contributed 35 points and nine assists as Charlotte held on after the Pistons made a strong comeback from a 20-point deficit in the second half.
Miller made two of his eight 3-pointers in overtime and also had a crucial steal to stop a Pistons fast break less than a minute into the extra period.
Aside from Miller and Ball, the Hornets’ other three starters scored just 23 points. Grant Williams added 12 points, Josh Green scored 10, and Moussa Diabate contributed 16 rebounds and one point.
The Hornets hit 20 of 44 3-pointers, making 45.5 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. Off the bench, Cody Martin scored 15 points and hit three 3-pointers, helping Charlotte earn only their second win in the last six games.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 27 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. Tobias Harris added 26 points and eight rebounds, while Malik Beasley (16 points) and Isaiah Stewart (13 points, nine rebounds) also made solid contributions from the bench.
Detroit turned the ball over 19 times, which the Hornets turned into 25 points.
The Pistons trailed 89-69 in the third quarter but fought back to tie the game at 107 with a basket from Jaden Ivey with 1:33 left in the fourth. Cunningham then made two free throws to cap a 10-0 run, giving Detroit a 109-107 lead.
Ball responded with a basket to tie it with 25 seconds left, and Beasley missed a potential game-winner in the last second of regulation.
In overtime, Tre Mann’s layup with 3:03 left put Charlotte ahead for good at 113-112, followed by Miller’s first 3-pointer of the extra period at 1:43.
The Hornets were in control in the third quarter after starting with a 63-59 lead at halftime. Green hit two 3-pointers to spark the offense, and Ball scored seven straight points to push the lead to 84-67. The lead grew to 89-69 before the Pistons went on an 8-0 run. Cunningham had 23 points through three quarters.
The Hornets scored at least 30 points in each of the first three quarters but were outscored 30-16 in the fourth.
