Hornets ride massive 3rd quarter to blow out 76ers

Brandon Miller poured in 30 points and was one of eight Charlotte players in double figures as the Hornets blew out the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 130-93 on Monday afternoon.

Miller shot 9-for-12 from the field, making six 3-point baskets to lead the Hornets in scoring for the sixth game in a row. Ryan Kalkbrenner notched 13 points, followed by 12 points apiece from Moussa Diabate, Kon Knueppel and Josh Green, 11 points and eight assists from LaMelo Ball and 10 points each from Miles Bridges and Collin Sexton.

The Hornets, who benefitted from a 40-15 scoring advantage in the third quarter on the way to their third consecutive victory, shot 55.3% from the field and made 17 of 42 shots from 3-point range.

Kelly Oubre Jr. was the only 76ers starter in double figures with 17 points. The ex-Hornet shot 7-for-12 from the field. Jared McCain added 16 points and Quentin Grimes had 12.

Philadelphia, which lost for the fifth time in a seven-game stretch, was without Joel Embiid and Paul George due to injury management, leaving huge holes in the lineup. The best quarter for the 76ers came in the fourth when they racked up 34 points. They failed to score more than 22 in any other quarter.

The Hornets, who avenged an October loss, finished with 34 assists on 47 baskets. They held Philadelphia to two points in the first three minutes of the third quarter as the margin grew rapidly.

After holding a 69-44 halftime lead, the Hornets built a 41-point advantage with more than five minutes left in the third quarter and then the margin grew to 109-59 by the end of the quarter.

Without Embiid patrolling the middle, Charlotte centers Diabate and Kalkbrenner combined to shoot 12-for-15 from the field, including 5-for-5 in the first quarter when the Hornets pulled out to a 28-22 lead.

The game's starting time was moved up four hours because of weather-related concerns after a winter storm struck the area during the weekend.

--Field Level Media