The Charlotte Hornets may still be navigating the early-season turbulence, sitting at 6-14, but Saturday night’s overtime win over the Toronto Raptors felt like more than just a mark in the win column - it felt like a step in the right direction.
Snapping Toronto’s nine-game winning streak, the Hornets pulled out a gritty 118-111 victory, powered by a monster night from Miles Bridges and some composed late-game execution from their young core. Bridges was the engine, pouring in 35 points - including 10 in the extra period - and playing with the kind of urgency and swagger that can shift a team’s energy. When the game tightened, he didn’t blink.
But what stood out even more than the final score was how Charlotte managed the moment. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, two of the franchise’s foundational pieces, were back in the lineup for their first back-to-back action in weeks.
And while both made key contributions, neither played a full starter’s workload. That wasn’t an oversight - it was by design.
Head coach Charles Lee made it clear postgame: this is about the long game.
“We’ll see how they recover after their first back-to-back in a while,” Lee said. “You just have to keep the process, the long-term vision, in mind even when you're in these moments.”
That’s a telling quote. In a league where urgency often overrides caution, Lee is leaning into the bigger picture.
Ball, who’s averaging 19.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists this season, played in controlled bursts, focusing more on rhythm and tempo than sheer volume. Miller, averaging 17.0 points per game through six appearances, was similarly managed, even as he continues to grow into a reliable secondary scorer.
What’s encouraging is the buy-in. Both players could’ve pushed for more minutes, especially in a tight game against a quality opponent. Instead, they embraced the strategy - a sign of maturity, and a sign that this team might be building something more sustainable than just chasing wins in December.
“We want to win every game, obviously, and those two guys help you do it,” Lee said. “But we do have really good depth, and so you lean on that depth in moments like this.”
And that depth delivered. Kon Knueppel continues to be a steady presence, averaging 18.4 points per game across 20 outings. Around him, the role players stepped up - defending, executing, and making the kind of plays that don’t always show up in the box score but win you games in overtime.
This wasn’t a perfect performance, and the Hornets still have a long road ahead to climb out of their early-season hole. But there’s a clear identity starting to take shape: one rooted in patience, structure, and development. That’s no small thing for a young team trying to find its footing.
If Ball and Miller can stay on track physically, and if this supporting cast keeps showing up when called upon, Saturday’s win might not be an outlier - it could be the first sign of a team starting to turn the corner.