Miller scores 38, Ball adds 35 to lead Hornets past Pistons 123-121 in OT

CHARLOTTE, NC (AP) – Brandon Miller scored eight of his career-high 38 points in overtime and the Charlotte Hornets held on to beat the Detroit Pistons 123-121 on Thursday night.

Miller was 8 for 12 from 3-point range – two of those coming in overtime – and LaMelo Ball had 35 points and nine assists before hitting a second in OT as Charlotte won after squandering a 20-point lead in the third quarter.

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham had 27 points and 10 assists before leaving the game with a hip injury with 48 seconds left in regulation after being fouled by Grant Williams. Cunningham made two free throws before leaving the game.

Ball, who has battled foul trouble this season, picked up three in the first quarter and took one off the bench. He returned to score 13 of Charlotte’s 15 points in one stretch of the third quarter.

The Pistons stormed back and took the lead on Cunningham’s free throws. Ball tied the game with a floater and Malik Beasley missed two shots from short range. Ball had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but his floater didn’t fall.

Takeaways

Stamps: Jalen Duren was a non-factor for most of the game, finishing with five points and nine rebounds despite facing a Hornets team that was without centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards.

Hornets: Charlotte said Williams (hamstring strain) and Richards (rib fracture) have “returned to group and team activities” and are close to returning to action.

Key moment

Miller drained his career-best eighth 3-pointer with 32 seconds left in overtime to give Charlotte a six-point lead.

Key state

Miller and Ball became the first Hornets to score 35 points in the same game in franchise history.

Next

The Pistons visit the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, while the Hornets travel to face the Milwaukee Bucks.

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