Hornets rout Nets 117-86 in lopsided affair

Charlotte's Brandon Miller scores 25 points in dominant victory over Brooklyn

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:37am

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The Charlotte Hornets cruised to a 117-86 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night, led by a 25-point performance from Brandon Miller. The Hornets jumped out to a 35-18 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, outscoring the Nets 70-47 over the final three quarters. Charlotte had 28 assists on 41 made field goals and outrebounded Brooklyn 56-41.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Hornets in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, as they are now tied with the Miami Heat for ninth place, just a half-game behind the Orlando Magic. Meanwhile, the loss extends the Nets' struggles as they continue to languish near the bottom of the standings.

The details

Brandon Miller led the way for the Hornets with 25 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including three 3-pointers, in the first quarter to help Charlotte build an early lead. Miles Bridges added 19 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 14 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. For the Nets, Josh Minott scored 14 points in the losing effort.

  • The Hornets jumped out to a 35-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.
  • Brooklyn trimmed the deficit to 47-39 with 5:19 remaining in the second quarter, but could get no closer.

The players

Brandon Miller

A key player for the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 25 points on 5-of-5 shooting in the first quarter to help his team build an early lead.

Miles Bridges

A starting forward for the Charlotte Hornets, contributing 19 points in the victory.

LaMelo Ball

The star point guard for the Charlotte Hornets, recording 14 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds in the game.

Josh Minott

A player for the Brooklyn Nets, scoring 14 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We matched our season low for points allowed. That's a good sign for us defensively.”

— Steve Clifford, Hornets Head Coach

What’s next

The Hornets will look to build on this win when they host the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, while the Nets will try to get back on track when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the stark contrast between the playoff-contending Hornets and the struggling Nets, as Charlotte's balanced scoring attack and stifling defense overwhelmed Brooklyn throughout the night. The Hornets' ability to share the ball and crash the boards proved to be the difference in this lopsided affair.