Hornets Blow Out Trail Blazers
Charlotte Hornets defeated Portland Trail Blazers 109-93 in a dominant performance. The 16-point victory puts Charlotte in better position as they push for playoff contention in the competitive Eastern Conference.
The victory marked the Hornets' fourth consecutive win, bringing their record to 30-31 and placing them just one game shy of .500 for the first time since they were 3-4 early in the season. This recent stretch of success includes their second winning streak of four or more games this season, a feat they last accomplished in the 2021-22 season. A major catalyst for the Hornets' recent surge has been their performance since the calendar turned to 2026. In that time, the team has boasted the best net rating and offensive rating in the entire NBA. Defensively, they've been just as impressive, holding opponents to the lowest effective field goal percentage in the league and ranking third in defensive rating since the new year. Second-year forward Brandon Miller has been a standout performer for Charlotte and led all scorers with 26 points, including six three-pointers, and pulled down eight rebounds in the win. Miller has emerged as the Hornets' most potent scorer in 2026. Off the bench, Coby White contributed a significant 20 points, his highest-scoring game as a Hornet since being acquired. The Portland Trail Blazers were without their All-Star forward Deni Avdija, who was sidelined with a back injury. In his absence, veteran guard Jrue Holiday led the team with 25 points. The loss dropped the Trail Blazers' record to 29-32 on the season. This game was notable for the Hornets as it was the first time the team had a completely clean injury report all season. The win strengthens their position in the Eastern Conference standings as they push for their first playoff appearance since 2016.
