Hornets set franchise road mark as Miller and Knueppel rout Bulls 131-99 in Chicago
Charlotte’s shooting surge turns a close first half into a record-setting road run
The Charlotte Hornets extended their best road stretch in franchise history Tuesday night, overwhelming the Chicago Bulls 131-99 at the United Center behind efficient scoring from Brandon Miller and rookie guard Kon Knueppel. The victory marked Charlotte’s eighth consecutive road win, a new team record, and came in a game that swung decisively after halftime.
Miller led the Hornets with 23 points, while Knueppel added 21. Charlotte placed seven players in double figures and produced one of its most prolific perimeter nights of the season, hitting 25 three-pointers on 57 attempts. The 25 made threes finished one short of the franchise record for a single game.
Third-quarter burst decides the game
Charlotte carried a 56-55 lead into halftime after a back-and-forth opening two quarters that included a nine-point Chicago advantage in the second period. The game changed sharply in the third quarter, when the Hornets outscored the Bulls 42-16. During that stretch, Charlotte strung together a 22-2 run that turned a narrow margin into a blowout.
Knueppel’s scoring spurt anchored the separation. Midway through the third, he hit consecutive three-pointers and scored 10 straight points to push Charlotte ahead by 14. Miller followed by converting his next three field goals, including one of his five three-pointers, as the lead ballooned to 88-65.
- Final score: Hornets 131, Bulls 99
- Third quarter: Hornets 42, Bulls 16
- Charlotte three-point shooting: 25-for-57
- Chicago turnovers: 19
Milestones and roster notes
Knueppel’s night also included a statistical milestone: he reached 201 made three-pointers for the season, becoming the fastest player to reach 200 threes, doing so in his 58th game. LaMelo Ball scored 16 points and Miles Bridges also had 16 in his return from a suspension. Bridges and Moussa Diabate were back in the starting lineup after missing four games following their roles in a Feb. 9 fight against Detroit.
Charlotte also debuted guard Coby White, who entered midway through the first quarter and scored 10 points in 15 minutes, 33 seconds against the franchise that traded him earlier this month. White spent six and a half seasons in Chicago and was acknowledged with an in-arena tribute.
Chicago’s skid continues despite Buzelis career high
For the Bulls, rookie forward Matas Buzelis scored a career-high 32 points, but Chicago’s 19 turnovers and the third-quarter collapse overshadowed the performance. The loss extended Chicago’s losing streak to 10 games, matching the team’s longest skid since January 2019. Patrick Williams and Guerschon Yabusele scored 11 points apiece.
Next games: Charlotte visits Indiana on Thursday; Chicago hosts Portland on Thursday.