Miller scores 34 as the Hornets keep Heat winless

CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 26 ------ Brandon Miller scored 34 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the winless Miami Heat 115-110, bouncing back from one of the worst losses in franchise history a night earlier.

Charlotte’s 128-81 loss to Atlanta on Friday in its home opener was the fifth-largest in franchise history. Miller missed 12 of 14 field goal attempts and 10 of his 11 3-point tries in a six-point effort that came four days after he had signed a five-year, $209 million contract extension. Dennis Schroder added 25 points, Naz Reid had 23 and Grayson Allen 20 for Charlotte (2-1).

Giannis Antetokounmpo was limited to 14 points — more than 20 fewer than the 35.5 per game he averaged in his first two games after his trade from the Milwaukee Bucks in one of the biggest NBA offseason transactions. The Hornets, who were 11 of 51 from 3-point range Friday, made 16 of 43 on Saturday. Five of those 3s sparked a 24-7 run in the third quarter that gave them control of the game to the delight of the sellout crowd of 19,611 at Spectrum Center. Leading 68-63 with 10 1/2 minutes left in the third period, Charlotte’s surge gave it a 92-70 advantage with 2:55 left in the quarter. But with Antetokounmpo in foul trouble — he would foul out with 1:57 to play — Miami coach Erik Spoelstra used a lineup of starters Davion Mitchell and Bam Adebayo and reserves Pelie Larsson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bobby Portis Jr. to spark a rally that forged ties at 100, 102 and 104.

After the final tie with 3:46 to play, Allen turned the momentum back Charlotte’s way for good with an acrobatic 3-pointer from the left wing while being fouled by Hardaway at the end of the 24-second shot clock. When Allen’s free throw completed the four-point play, it gave Charlotte a 108-104 lead. Miami would not get any closer than three the rest of the way. Mitchell led Miami with 22 points with Adebayo adding 20, Larsson 15 and Klay Thompson 14. The teams were meeting for the first time since Charlotte's 127-126 overtime win in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament ended Miami’s 2025-26 season. Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, who hit the game-winning shot in that victory, was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the offseason.

In other games, Devin Booker scored 43 points, Miles Bridges added 16 and the Phoenix Suns won their home opener for the fifth straight season by beating the short-handed Golden State Warriors 131-122. The Warriors — who were playing for the third time in four days — fell to 0-3 for the first time in 19 years while resting several key players, including Stephen Curry (right knee), Brandin Podziemski (low back), Draymond Green (low back) and Al Horford (low back).

Booker scored 17 points in the third quarter and Jordan Goodwin hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give the Suns a 102-92 lead entering the fourth. The Warriors hung around for a few more minutes, but the Suns eventually pulled away and Luke Kennard hit a 3 to extend the lead to 117-102 with six minutes left. Kennard finished with 11 points, hitting 3 of 5 from 3-point range, which is exactly what the team expected when they signed him in the offseason. Dillon Brooks had 15 points and five assists. The Suns were coming off an embarrassing 124-83 road loss in the season opener to the Trail Blazers. They struggled in the opening quarter of Saturday's game, too, making just 1 of 12 shots from 3-point range.

Victor Wembanyama had 23 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, Dylan Harper scored 22 points and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 122-106. De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle added 19 points apiece as the Spurs avoided their first 0-3 start since 2008-09. They lost to Oklahoma City on Tuesday and to Houston in Austin on Friday. Rookie Sergio de Larrea led the Mavericks (1-2) with 21 points off the bench, going 3 of 4 behind the arc. Dallas’ five starters combined for 50 points, topped by P.J. Washington with 12 points.

Source: mb.com.ph