Bugs re-open Spectrum Center with a blowout win

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Brandon Miller scored 25 points and dished seven assists in his first game since Jan. 15 in the Hornets' 136-117 win against Brooklyn Oct. 22, 2025 at Spectrum Center.

Spectrum Center was again filled with raucous Hornets fans.

They were treated to an opening night blowout 136-117 against the Brooklyn Nets, a game that finished with nine Hornets scoring in double-figures and 33 assists on 48 made shots. Coach Charles Lee said it was great to be back in front of home fans again. 

“The crowd was lit as I expected,” Lee said. “It was fun to be back in the Spectrum [Center], and it was also good to have another opportunity to play a game and try to build some better habits on both sides of the ball. I think defensively, we did a lot of really good things, and things that we’ll continue to try to emphasize.”

Hornets guard/forward Brandon Miller, who played his first regular season game since Jan. 15, didn’t show any signs of rust with 25 points and seven assists in just over 30 minutes. 

“This is what we work to do all summer,” Miller said. “I am blessed to be back playing with my teammates and having fun. We put on a great win for our first game, so we will just keep building from here on out.”

After rehabbing the wrist injury Miller sustained last season, it didn’t appear to bother him.

“It’s good,” Miller said. “No pain tonight. I’ll probably just get in the cold tub after this and come back tomorrow and get some more treatment and just work on getting back to the next game.”

Rookies Kon Knueppel and Ryan Kalkbrenner started against Brooklyn. Knueppel finished with 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting and 3-for-4 from three-point range. Kalkbrenner had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Rookie Sion James logged just over 16 minutes off the bench with two points, four rebounds and two assists. The Hornets’ fourth rookie, Liam McNeely, did not play.

“We celebrated all four rookies,” Lee said. “It's cool when you get your first NBA victory, especially to do it here at Spectrum in front of our great fans. They have made an impact from day one, just with their work ethic and who they are as people, and it was cool to see them be able to impact the game today in a lot of different ways.”

Knueppel — a three-point sniper — scored his first career basket on a contested layup. Then he went on to do what he did best by hitting three three-pointers before missing his last attempt. Knueppel, who was called for a few reach-in fouls that could have been avoided, chalked it up to a learning experience.

“It was really fun to get out there for the first time and get the full NBA experience,” he said. “[I got] my hand caught in the cookie jar a couple of times there when [Cam] Thomas stopped early on the pick-and-roll. Just some of those calls I have to get used to, but obviously it was a blast to get out there with the guys.”

LaMelo Ball scored a quiet 20 points on 7-for-15 shooting. Ball was at his best when he was finding teammates as he led Charlotte with eight assists, including highlight reel lobs to Miller. 

“Like I’ve said before, I have seen him throw a lot of lobs,” Miller said, “but the thing that people don’t talk about is just his competitive spirit on the defensive side of the ball. I feel like that is the one thing he has worked on a lot this summer is guarding off the ball and guarding off-ball actions. Of course, we see he is getting stronger, so hats off to him. He has had a great summer and will continue to be great for us.”

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