Hornets Fans Drown Out Knicks Crowd in Signature Victory

Brandon Miller and Charles Lee praise home crowd for creating electric atmosphere in win over Knicks

Mar. 27, 2026 at 5:51am

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The Charlotte Hornets delivered an impressive 114-103 victory over the New York Knicks, with the home crowd playing a key role in the win. Hornets players and coaches praised the fans for drowning out the typically vocal Knicks supporters, creating a raucous atmosphere at the Spectrum Center. Rookie standout Kon Knueppel led the way for Charlotte with a near triple-double, while Brandon Miller also had a strong performance. The win was built on the Hornets' dominance on the boards and from beyond the arc, areas where the Knicks usually excel.

Why it matters

The Hornets' victory over the Knicks, a top-3 seed in the Eastern Conference, suggests the team may be ready to make a push for the playoffs after missing out for the past 9 seasons. The home crowd's ability to outcheer the typically loud Knicks fans also highlights the growing excitement and passion of the Hornets fanbase, which could provide a valuable home-court advantage as the team aims to end its postseason drought.

The details

The Hornets never let the Knicks settle, taking an early lead and answering every run in a dominant performance. Charlotte finished plus-22 on the rebounds, outrebounding New York 52-30, and hit 16 of 41 attempts from 3-point range. Rookie Kon Knueppel led the way with a near triple-double, while Brandon Miller added 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.

  • The Hornets beat the Knicks 114-103 on Thursday night.

The players

Kon Knueppel

Rookie standout for the Charlotte Hornets who finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists, shooting 64.3% from the field and making 6 3-pointers.

Brandon Miller

Hornets guard who scored 21 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists on 58.3% shooting from the field and 50% from 3-point range.

Charles Lee

Head coach of the Charlotte Hornets who praised the home crowd for creating a raucous atmosphere and helping the team defeat the Knicks.

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What they’re saying

“It was amazing that our Hornets fans were able to drown out some of the Knicks fans, which I loved and we appreciate. That definitely helped us. It created a real home-court advantage, even though they are such a top team and they travel so well.”

— Charles Lee, Head Coach, Charlotte Hornets

“I gotta give another shoutout to the home crowd. I've never heard a New York game like this where Charlotte fans are cheering louder than the New York fans. So I applaud them.”

— Brandon Miller

What’s next

The Hornets will look to build on this signature win as they continue their push for a playoff spot, with key games against other Eastern Conference contenders on the horizon.

The takeaway

The Hornets' victory over the Knicks, fueled by a raucous home crowd that drowned out the typically vocal New York fans, showcases the growing excitement and passion of the Charlotte fanbase and suggests the team may be ready to end its long playoff drought.