The Charlotte Hornets walked into Chicago shorthanded and walked out with one of their most impressive wins of the season, knocking off the Chicago Bulls 112–99 despite being without nearly their entire frontcourt.
With Ryan Kalkbrenner, Moussa Diabate, and Mason Plumlee all sidelined, the Hornets were forced to play smaller, lean on versatility, and win with toughness. They did exactly that, controlling the game for long stretches and never allowing Chicago to fully seize momentum.
The night belonged to Miles Bridges, who delivered one of his most complete performances in a Hornets uniform. Bridges finished with 26 points on an efficient 11-of-18 shooting while pulling down a season-high 14 rebounds.
In the process, he moved into fifth place on the franchise’s all-time games played list with 458 and recorded the third-most 20-point games in team history with 161. With Charlotte undersized and vulnerable inside, Bridges’ physicality and willingness to battle on the glass set the tone.
Brandon Miller continued his steady rise with 22 points, providing timely scoring whenever Chicago threatened to make a run. His confidence and shot selection have become increasingly reliable, giving Charlotte another dependable option on the wing.
Rookie Kon Knueppel added 18 points and made history of his own, becoming just the third rookie in franchise history to score at least 15 points in 10 consecutive games. In a lineup missing size, Knueppel’s scoring punch and composure were invaluable.
LaMelo Ball chipped in 17 points and seven assists, while also passing David Wesley for fourth place on the Hornets’ all-time assists leaderboard with 1,914. Ball’s ability to control tempo and create clean looks helped Charlotte stay organized despite the patchwork frontcourt.
The fact that they were as shorthanded as they were on a back to back makes this a statement win for Charlotte, a team continuing to try and grow in this league.
The Hornets will stay on the road and head to OKC to face the defending champion, Thunder, for the second time this year.