Brandon Miller Has Dreadful Shooting Night as Hornets Fall in Tight Loss
Brandon Miller struggled on the offensive end in a narrow loss, finishing with 17 points on 5-of-22 shooting, including a 1-of-12 mark from three-point range. His inefficiency weighed on a team that surrendered a late run and ultimately lost 105-101.
Brandon Miller's dreadful shooting night
Miller's stat line highlights how costly the shooting slump was: 17 points, seven assists, four rebounds and one steal, with 6-of-7 free throws providing most of the point total. The 5-of-22 field-goal performance and 1-of-12 from deep made him a significant offensive drag in a close game.
His role has expanded while another key player remains suspended, and the volume of attempts amplifies the impact of a cold shooting night. The missed perimeter looks limited the team's offensive efficiency during a contest that slipped away in the second quarter and featured a decisive late push by the opposition.
Midrange lesson and why development matters for Brandon Miller
The game provided a stark midrange contrast: an opposing veteran finished with 35 points, converting 8-of-10 from midrange and drilling a 17-foot dagger with 21 seconds remaining. That sequence capped a comeback that erased a double-digit lead the Hornets held earlier and helped secure the 105-101 result.
The matchup underlined an area flagged as a must-develop skill for Miller. While coaching emphasis has steered the team's offense toward three-pointers and shots inside the paint, Miller previously expressed a desire to incorporate more midrange attempts into his shot diet. This season he has been shooting under 40 percent from that area, and his recent performance — 5-22 from the field in this game — did not provide a strong counterargument to coaches who prioritize other shot types.
There is evidence he can be effective there: during his rookie season he converted 49. 4 percent of shots from 16 feet to just inside the three-point arc. That historical accuracy suggests midrange development could be a viable path back to consistency if Miller elects to expand his repertoire rather than continue to rely primarily on perimeter and paint attempts.
What the team picture looks like and next steps
The loss exposed defensive matchups and offensive choices. The opponent's midrange efficiency was enabled in part by matchups where the Hornets' perimeter defenders lacked the height to disrupt the jumper. Offensively, Miller's reluctance to attack midrange areas — combined with coaching priorities favoring threes and interior shots — left him without the variety that might have changed the game's momentum.
The onus is on Miller to diversify his scoring options. He showed potential as a midrange shooter earlier in his career and has the length and handles to create space against smaller defenders. Mixing in midrange attempts and finding ways to sustain efficiency from those zones would address the specific shortcomings highlighted in this loss.
Key takeaways
- Brandon Miller finished 5-of-22 from the field and 1-of-12 from three in a 105-101 loss.
- He added seven assists, four rebounds and one steal, and made 6-of-7 free throws.
- An opposing scorer's dominance from midrange, including an important 17-foot shot late, swung the game.
- Coaching emphasis on threes and paint shots has limited midrange attempts; Miller's midrange percentage this season sits below 40 percent, despite stronger rookie-season marks from that area.
Recent developments indicate the issues are tangible and specific: Miller's shot selection and midrange effectiveness will be central to how he responds in upcoming games. Details may evolve as the team adjusts rotations and Miller looks to regain efficiency.
