The Charlotte Hornets stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers in a dramatic 119-111 overtime victory on Dec. 14, with a rare defensive feat: Cleveland failed to score a single point in the five-minute overtime period, becoming only the 12th team in NBA history to be shut out in OT. Reuters
Rookie Kon Knueppel led the charge, pouring in 29 points to top the Hornets’ scoring and showcase his developing star power. Brandon Miller added 25 points along with a career-high 13 rebounds and six assists, anchoring Charlotte’s balanced attack. Reuters
The Hornets also got a strong performance from Miles Bridges, who chipped in 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, helping Charlotte build an early lead and weather a late push from the home team. Reuters
Charlotte overcame a roller-coaster game that saw them blow a 17-point lead in the second half, only to regain momentum down the stretch. Cleveland’s Darius Garland scored 26 points, and Donovan Mitchell added 17, but the Cavaliers couldn’t find offense in overtime, missing all 10 of their shots in the extra frame. Reuters
The dramatic finish was capped off when Miller’s tying three-pointer sent the game to OT, and Charlotte’s suffocating defense in the bonus period sealed the win — a much-needed statement victory as the Hornets look to build confidence in a challenging season.
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