ATLANTA — The Charlotte Hornets will be without guard Brandon Miller, one of the team’s top players, for at least a week because of a strained left glute.
After sustaining the injury, Miller sat out the second half of the Hornets’ 110-105 victory at Houston to open the season. The Hornets said Friday night before their 125-120 loss at Atlanta that Miller would be evaluated in a week, meaning the high-scoring guard was expected to sit out at least three games.
The Hornets also were without starting center Mark Williams, who has a strained tendon in his left foot, against the Hawks. Missing two starters in only the second game of the season was a painful reminder of injury woes that have persisted the past two seasons, helping to extend the team’s playoff drought to eight years.
The team’s top player, point guard LaMelo Ball, has played only 58 of 164 games the past two seasons because of ankle injuries. Ball scored 34 points against Houston in his first game since January.
Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 draft, averaged 17.3 points and 4.3 rebounds as a rookie.
Hornets first-year coach Charles Lee said “a total team effort” would be needed to fill the void left by Miller’s injury. “He brings a lot on both sides of the floor.”
