THE Charlotte Frelons play inspired basketball. A sleepy start like the one the team had tonight against the Indiana Pacers would have doomed past Hornets teams. Not this one.

On the back of Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball, the Hornets dominated the second half against the Pacers, outscoring Indiana by 29 points in the last 18 minutes of action to walk out of their arena with a 20-point victory that captivated the thousands of fans who flocked to the Spectrum Center.

It was a performance that put the league on alert, reinforcing the fact that this is no longer the Charlotte Hornets they once were. The duo of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller is unlike anything the city of Charlotte has seen on a basketball court, and after tonight’s game, Miller gave his thoughts on the current status and future potential of him and his rear running mate.

“It’s really scary. LaMelo is that two-way player that Coach Charles has been preaching to everyone. And also to myself, it’s a dangerous play to play. His ability to pass the ball on the offensive end and my ability to knock down shots, I think that’s a great duo to have.”

The ability of these two to make contested shots and commit offense is top-notch. Tonight’s plan of tough defense, persistent energy and relentless rebounding to keep the game close, followed by elite shooting from Ball and Miller in critical moments, will carry the Charlotte Hornets to victory many matches now and in the future. . Charles Lee’s message of energy, passion and constant joy on the court will surprise teams when they enter the hive that has become the Spectrum Center, and Charlotte’s superstars will keep them in contests with their offensive skills versatile.

The Hornets’ ability to take hits and keep rolling is inspiring. With three players on the field, including two starters and a key reserve starting the season, Charlotte did not give an inch to the Indiana front of Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam. This pair of players should have dominated Charlotte’s shorthanded front line, and even though Siakam posted a season-high goal total, the duo failed to make an impact on the game when it counted.

Charlotte’s scrappy defense, endless energy on the glass and switching between the five players who took the floor tonight did enough on the defensive side of the ball to allow their two superstar scorers to take over in a stretch. winner. It’s a model that dominated last season’s Eastern Conference finalists, and it’s a repeatable model that will continue to reignite the buzz around the Charlotte Hornets.

MORE HORNET STORIES ON SI

Brandon Miller’s season-high propels the Hornets to a thrilling win over the Pacers.