Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball torch the Indiana Pacers in the second half? Scary

The Charlotte Hornets play inspired basketball. A sleepy start like tonight’s against the Indiana Pacers would have doomed the old Hornets teams. Not this one.

On the backs of Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball, the Hornets dominated the second half against the Pacers, beating Indiana with 29 points in the last 18 minutes of action to leave their home arena with a 20-point victory that thrilled the thousands of fans who made their way to the Spectrum Center.

It was a performance that put the spotlight on the league and cemented the fact that these are not the Charlotte Hornets they once were. The duo of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller is unlike anything the city of Charlotte has ever seen on a basketball court, and after tonight’s game, Miller gave his thoughts on the current status and future potential of him and his running mate in the backcourt.

“It’s absolutely scary. LaMelo is that two-way player that coach Charles has preached to everyone. And to myself, too, that’s a dangerous game to play. His ability to pass the ball on the offensive end and my ability to knock down shots I think that’s a great duo to have.”

The ability of those two to make contested shots and draw fouls is top-notch. Tonight’s blueprint of sharp defense, persistent energy and ruthless rebounding to keep the game close, followed by elite shot-making by Ball and Miller in crunch time, will give the Charlotte Hornets a lot of games, both now and in the future. . Charles Lee’s message of consistent energy, passion and joy on the floor will surprise teams when they enter the beehive that has become the Spectrum Center, and Charlotte’s superstars will keep them in games with their versatile offensive skills.

The Hornets’ ability to absorb punches and keep rolling is inspiring. Down three front court players, including two starters and a key reserve to start the season, Charlotte didn’t give an inch to Indiana’s front court of Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam. That pair of players should have dominated Charlotte’s short front line, and although Siakam put up a season-high score, the duo failed to impact the game when it mattered. Charlotte’s scrambling defense, endless energy on the glass, and their switchability across all five players who took the floor tonight did enough on the defensive side of the ball to allow their two superstars to score the win in winning time. It’s a blueprint that dominated last season’s Eastern Conference runners-up, and it’s a replicable blueprint that will continue to bring back the buzz around these Charlotte Hornets

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