Hornets' Last-Second Miss Costs Them Narrow Loss to Bucks
A Close Game in Milwaukee
After a tough loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday afternoon, the Charlotte Hornets found themselves in a new year matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks in Kon Knueppel's hometown. This game was significant for several reasons, especially since the Hornets were missing all three of their standard contract centers. As a result, two-way big man PJ Hall made his first NBA start.
The Hornets and Bucks had already faced each other three times this season, with the most recent encounter on December 29th, which the Bucks won. This gave them a 2-1 lead in the season series. The challenge for the Hornets was guarding one of the league's best players, Giannis Antetokounmpo. When he was on the court, the Bucks were a +21, but when he was off, the Hornets had a chance to make an impact.
Strong Performances from the Hornets
Several Hornets players stepped up in this crucial game. Kon Knueppel delivered an impressive performance, scoring 26 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists. Brandon Miller contributed 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Collin Sexton added 16 points and 6 assists. Miles Bridges scored 25 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and recorded 2 assists. Tidjane Salaun also had a solid game with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist.
The Hornets built a lead of up to 14 points in the first quarter. However, the Bucks managed to win both the second and third quarters by five points each, giving the Hornets a 4-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
A Back-and-Forth Fourth Quarter
The game remained tightly contested throughout the fourth quarter. At the 4:30 mark, the Bucks decided to sit Antetokounmpo, which proved to be a pivotal moment. LaMelo Ball, who had struggled shooting the ball earlier in the game, took advantage of this decision and immediately scored 5 points, giving the Hornets a four-point cushion as Antetokounmpo re-entered the game.
With just 50 seconds left, Ryan Rollins hit a three-pointer to give the Hornets a 1-point lead. Miles Bridges followed it up with a layup, and Kyle Kuzma hit a three-pointer with 10.3 seconds remaining, putting the Bucks ahead by 2 points.
A Clutch Performance and a Narrow Loss
Miles Bridges once again came through with a clutch and-one make to put the Hornets up by 1 point with 8.8 seconds left. The Bucks called a timeout, and it seemed like they would get the final shot. Giannis Antetokounmpo caught a lob from Kevin Porter Jr., and with 4.7 seconds left, the Hornets trailed by 1 point, looking for the final shot.
Brandon Miller got a great look at the basket but missed the shot, resulting in a 122-121 loss for the Hornets.
Kon Knueppel's Impressive Performance
Kon Knueppel, a native of Milwaukee, returned home and delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 26 points. The former fourth overall pick was named the NBA's Rookie of the Month for December, becoming the third Hornet this decade to win back-to-back Rookie of the Month awards.
Additional Stories from the Hornets
- Hornets throw out new starting five as Moussa Diabate has been ruled out vs. Bucks
- Can the Hornets upset the Bucks to ring in 2026? Score predictions for Charlotte at Milwaukee
- Hornets announce interesting starting five as Kon Knueppel returns to the lineup
- Why trading LaMelo Ball could cost the Hornets more than just talent
This article originally appeared on www.si.com/nba/hornets/onsi as Hornets miss last second shot, fall to Milwaukee Bucks by just one point.
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