The Charlotte Hornets firmly handled the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday Night — cruising to a 105-90 victory. It was good for Charlotte to get a win last night, but more importantly, there were a couple of standout players from that win.
The injuries are still piling up , with Grayson Allen being out with right knee soreness, along with Christian Anderson Jr. still not seeing any action due to a left ankle sprain. However, Brandon Miller returned to the lineup. The Hornets still have two more preseason games left before regular season begins.
Oct 11, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Naz Reid (0) gets pressured by Milwaukee Bucks forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
With a win in the column, we should praise the players who are playing at a high level so far. Here are the three biggest winners from Charlotte's preseason matchup with Milwaukee.
Sion James has been having an excellent preseason. Through two games, he is averaging 9.5 points (54 FG%, 62 3PT%), 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. It looks like he's more confident in his jumper, and that has done wonders for his efficiency.
He's arguably the best defender in Charlotte. If his improved shot continues into the regular season, the Hornets will have one of the best three-and-D players from a value standpoint.
When the Hornets were attempting the "James Point Guard Experiment" in Summer League, it was nothing short of a disaster. While it was a valiant effort to see if he could orchestrate the offense, the shoe just didn't fit.
James is Exhibit A of why second-round picks are still valuable and is making a strong case to become a must-keep player in this franchise. Everything is trending up for the second-year wing.
With injuries a major factor this preseason, it was great to see Miller back in action after a shin contusion sidelined him against the Nets. He looked good — leading the way with 18 points (6-for-15 from the field, 4-for-9 from three), three rebounds, and four assists in 23 minutes of action. He dropped a thunderous dunk, made some tough shots, and even showed his two-way ability with a strong block.
The hope is that Miller is past his prior shoulder subluxation injury that kept him wearing a protective wrap for the majority of last season. Miller has a chance to put up a stellar season without LaMelo Ball in town. That is, as long as the offense can run efficiently like it did last season with Ball being the engine.
We still haven't seen Coby White and Kon Knueppel next to him, as they will be sidelined the entire preseason with injuries. From what we have seen, though, the All-Star leap looks increasingly likely.
His long-awaited extension should be coming any day now.
Naz Reid seems to be settling into his new role. Reid posted 16 points (7-for-14 from the field, 2-for-6 from three), two rebounds, and one assist in 20 minutes of action on Sunday.
For the first time in his career, Reid will have an opportunity to be a full-time starter. For Charlotte, it'll be the first time in a while that they have had an appropriate NBA-sized power forward who can really space the floor and face up in the post.
Head coach Charles Lee is actively trying to get him the ball on specific plays to ensure he gets the best matchup possible. The early returns on Reid look good.
The Ball for Reid trade will be evaluated in a variety of ways, but Reid will need to play at a high level to convince Hornets fans the package received was worth it.
Featured Image: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
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