Coach Charles Lee and the team address the "missed opportunity" and the shooting woes that led to a 94-87 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers despite the national spotlight and the pre-game buzz generated by the ESPN broadcast. By DIAMOND VENCES
Putting together a game plan to halt the lengthy losing streak to the Philadelphia 76ers wasn’t the only thing at the forefront of Charles Lee’s mind over the weekend.
“Just been trying to keep them safe really, and not out on these icy, wintry streets,” the Charlotte Hornets coach said Monday. “Obviously, a heck of a job by the team to adjust and play a noon game against the (Washington) Wizards a few days ago, a very good, talented young team. I thought we responded to all the punches they threw throughout that game and found a way to win a close game.
“Today, with the game being adjusted to 3 p.m., that’s your usual routine of shootaround and (then) play.”
Maybe the Hornets should petition the NBA to keep pushing up their tipoff times.
Unfazed by the start of their outing against Philadelphia being moved up four hours due to the after-effects of the ice storm, the Hornets pummeled the 76ers 130-93 at Spectrum Center before a few thousand fans who braved the elements.
“Honestly, (it’s) not allowing circumstances to affect outcomes,” Collin Sexton said. “At the end of the day, you have to just move on. Certain circumstances are going to happen. You might get into a little traffic on the way here. You might show up late, you might need the game to be pushed forward. So, little things like that, don’t allow that to affect us.
“Continue to go out there and fight and continue to execute what we need. And we need wins right now. Each and every game. It does count.”
Snapping an 11-game losing streak to Philadelphia, which dated back to 2022, was something for Charlotte (19-28) to feel good about, but that’s only a snippet. Make that an 8-5 mark for the surging Hornets over the past 13 outings.
Charlotte Hornets guard Brandon Miller, left and forward Miles Bridges, right, celebrate the team’s play during action against the Philadelphia 76ers at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Monday, January 26, 2026. The Hornets defeated the 76ers 130-93. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Keep this up and they’ll prove Charles Barkley right.
During the postgame show following Saturday’s national broadcast between Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers, the longtime analyst now with ESPN emphatically guaranteed the Hornets would be in the play-in tournament come April.
At this rate, that’s not out of the question.
Heading into Monday night, the Hornets were three games behind Atlanta in the loss column for the final tournament berth. Milwaukee sits two games ahead of Charlotte in the loss column, but the Bucks are struggling mightily and should be without injured star Giannis Antetokounmpo for at least the next month — if he’s not traded before then.
So, things are slowly setting up for the Hornets if they can make a run.
“I’ll honestly say stay hungry,” Sexton said. “Stay hungry, stay in the moment and focus on one game at a time. .
“...I feel like we have to continue to stay hungry in certain aspects of even going out there. We might jump on teams, and they’re going to make a run and we have to continue to not allow their runs affect us as a whole and as a group.”
Akin to the way they’ve responded lately despite the adjusting of game times, which led to everything being earlier than usual and kept attendance lower than normal. Fans with tickets to Monday’s game who were unable to attend can call the Hornets’ ticket office on Tuesday to exchange them for a future regular-season matchup.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball celebrates a three-point basket during action against the Philadelphia 76ers at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Monday, January 26, 2026. The Hornets defeated the 76ers 130-93. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“Game day atmosphere was still really good,” Lee said. “I thought that our guys played really well. These afternoon games I think give us an ability to understand whatever’s kind of thrown our way. … We’ve been a really resilient group all year. Whether it’s injuries or being punched in the face or a guy goes off in a corner and has a good moment, I think that we just respond all the time.
“So, even though the game got kind of moved with the weather and stuff, we responded today with a heck of an effort.”
And keeping up their current trend of holding teams under 100 points. It’s happened in four of their last five games.
“We’ve been playing to our strengths, doing the things that work,” Brandon Miller said. “And then we’re sticking to our M.I.G.s (most important guy) and shifts. So, as long as we keep that mindset and just have our helpers’ help, we’ll be great.”
Here are some more key takeaways from the Hornets’ win over Philadelphia:
Brandon Miller still hasn’t cooled off
Philadelphia, just like most opponents, didn’t have any answer for Miller.
In a smooth, yet seemingly effortless groove, Miller registered his seventh straight game with 20 or more points, representing the second longest streak of his two-plus seasons in the NBA. He still has a way to go to eclipse his career best of 12 games with at least 20 points, but after tossing in 30 against the 76ers and adding seven rebounds and a pair of assists he’s not showing any signs of slowing down.
Charlotte Hornets guard Brandon Miller celebrates a three-point play during action against the Philadelphia 76ers at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Monday, January 26, 2026. The Hornets defeated the 76ers 130-93. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“Like I’ve been preaching,” Miller said, “my teammates, they’ve been pushing, boosting my confidence every night, every day, every time we step in here they push me to be better than who I am that day.
“So, I just take my hat off to them for just trusting me, building my confidence up, knowing everything’s not going to be great or perfect, but they still have my back.”
Lee is thoroughly enjoying Miller’s success.
“I think the common thread is just his daily work,” Lee said. “I’ve seen it during the off-season, I’ve seen it throughout this whole season. Whether he was healthy, he was injured I just feel like there’s been an increase of daily work ethic. It’s really helped in his film study, him and (assistant coach) Josh (longstaff) watch a ton of clips and it’s him taking ownership of his development, his career
“A lot of these guys, they talk a big game, and they want to be great and this and they want to impact winning. I think talk is cheap and Brandon has definitely backed it up with how he works every day and I’m glad that he’s having those results. … I’m really proud of the growth and progress.”
Nick Nurse bullish on Hornets’ new cast
Nick Nurse didn’t even need to see the Hornets’ rookie class before leaving impressed with Charlotte’s new crop of youngsters.
The 76ers coach gave Kon Knueppel, Sion James, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Liam McNeeley the verbal thumbs up, mentioning how he is familiar with them from the scouting process leading into the NBA Draft last June.
Philadelphia held the third overall selection and took V.J. Edgecombe from Baylor — someone the Hornets also had their eye on — ahead of Charlotte grabbing Knueppel at No. 4.
Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel, right, fights for control of a loose ball with Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, left, during action at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Monday, January 26, 2026. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“I was heavily involved with the draft last year because of our pick, obviously with V.J.,” Nurse said, “so I know all of those guys pretty in-depth. Really great draft for Charlotte, really. All those guys have been really good and impactful for them.
“Kon obviously has been a little bit like V.J.. Probably everybody knew he was going to be up there way high on the board, but didn’t know they were going to maybe get all this from him consistently. Kalkbrenner, I’ve known for a while as well, just doing what he did in college consistently — rim protect, rebound, be big. James is doing what he did — play hard, kind of versatile wing/guard defender. So, excellent draft for them.”