Hornets guard Brandon Miller to miss at least a week with strained left glute

ATLANTA (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets will be without guard Brandon Miller, one of the team’s top players, for at least a week because of a strained left glute.

After suffering the injury, Miller sat out the second half of the Hornets’ 110-105 victory at Houston to open the season. The Hornets said Friday night before their game at Atlanta that Miller will be evaluated in a week, meaning the high-scoring guard is expected to miss at least three games.

The Hornets also were without starting center Mark Williams, who has a strained tendon in his left foot, against the Hawks. Missing two starters in only the second game of the season was a painful reminder of injury woes that have persisted the last two seasons, helping to extend the team’s playoff drought to eight years.

The team’s top player, point guard LaMelo Ball, has played only 58 of 164 games the last two seasons due to ankle injuries. Ball scored 34 points against Houston in his first game since January.

Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 draft, averaged 17.3 points and 4.3 rebounds as a rookie.

Charlotte Hornets’ Brandon Miller reacts after scoring during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Hornets first-year coach Charles Lee said “a total team effort” would be needed to fill the void left by Miller’s injury. “He brings a lot on both sides of the floor.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.