Miller, Knueppel lead Charlotte past Chicago; miller scores 23 in 131-99 rout for 8th straight road win

CHICAGO — miller scored 23 points and Kon Knueppel added 21 as the Charlotte Hornets routed the Chicago Bulls 131-99 on Tuesday night, securing a team-record eighth straight road victory. The margin and the shooting display underscored why the Hornets left Chicago with a decisive win and a sustained road streak.

Miller and Knueppel pace Charlotte

Brandon Miller finished with 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and Kon Knueppel contributed 21 points for the Hornets. Knueppel was 3-of-6 from long range in the game, bringing his career total to 201 long-range field goals; playing in his 58th game, he became the fastest player to reach 200 3s. During the third quarter Knueppel hit back-to-back 3s midway through the period and scored 10 straight points to give Charlotte a 14-point lead, and miller followed by hitting his next three shots — one of his five 3-pointers — to push the advantage further.

Hot shooting and a dominant third quarter

The Hornets shot 51. 6% from the field and sank 25 of 57 3-point attempts, one shy of the team record for makes from beyond the arc. Charlotte outscored Chicago 42-16 in the third quarter, including a decisive 22-2 run that shifted control firmly to the visitors and helped produce the 131-99 final.

Chicago’s miscues and Buzelis’ career night

Matas Buzelis scored a career-high 32 points for Chicago, but the Bulls were plagued by turnovers, committing 19 in the game. Patrick Williams and Guerschon Yabusele each added 11 points, and the loss marked Chicago’s 10th straight, matching their longest slide since January 2019.

Bridges’ return and lineup notes

Miles Bridges returned from a suspension and had 16 points in his comeback; he and Moussa Diabaté were both in the starting lineup after sitting out four games for their roles in a fight against Detroit on Feb. 9. Charlotte had fallen behind by nine midway through the second quarter but led 56-55 at halftime before the third-quarter surge.

Coby White’s Hornets debut and reception in Chicago

Coby White made his Hornets debut against the team that dealt him at the trade deadline earlier this month, entering midway through the first quarter. He scored 10 points in 15: 33 and was welcomed back in Chicago — where he played 6 1/2 seasons — with a short video tribute at the arena.