The Charlotte Hornets delivered one of their most complete road performances of the season on Friday night, dismantling the Indiana Pacers 133-109 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. A historic second-quarter blitz — Charlotte outscored Indiana 36-12 in the second period alone — turned a tight game into a rout, and the Hornets never looked back. Brandon Miller led the charge with 33 points, while LaMelo Ball orchestrated the offense with 8 assists in a wire-to-wire statement win for Charlotte.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Pacers Grab an Early Edge — CHA 31, IND 34
Indiana came out with energy in front of a crowd of 17,073 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, taking a 34-31 lead after the opening 12 minutes. The Pacers were moving the ball well and showing early signs that they could compete. Charlotte was not particularly sharp, but they kept the game close, setting the stage for what would become a dramatic shift in momentum.
Second Quarter: Charlotte Explodes — CHA 36, IND 12
This is where the game was decided. The Hornets went on an absolute tear in the second quarter, outscoring the Pacers 36-12 in what amounted to one of the most dominant single quarters of basketball Charlotte has produced this season. Indiana’s offense went ice cold — 12 points in 12 minutes is an alarming collapse — while the Hornets shot the ball efficiently and attacked from all angles. Charlotte walked into halftime with a commanding 67-46 lead, a 21-point cushion built almost entirely in one quarter.
Third Quarter: Charlotte Keeps the Foot on the Gas — CHA 40, IND 36
To Indiana’s credit, the Pacers came out of the locker room with renewed purpose and actually outscored Charlotte 36-35 in the second half when combined with the fourth quarter. But the third period belonged to the Hornets again. Charlotte posted 40 points in the third quarter — their highest-scoring period of the night — extending the lead further and making any Pacers comeback mathematically improbable. Indiana responded with 36 of their own, but the gap was simply too wide.
Fourth Quarter: Garbage Time — CHA 26, IND 27
With the outcome long settled, the fourth quarter was played out largely with reserves and backups logging minutes. Indiana edged the period 27-26, but neither team was playing with urgency. Charlotte coasted to the final buzzer, securing a 24-point road victory.
Key Performers
Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets — 33 PTS, 7 REB
Miller was the unquestioned star of the night. The second-year forward poured in a game-high 33 points while adding 7 rebounds, asserting himself as Charlotte’s primary offensive weapon throughout. His ability to create off the dribble and knock down shots at a high rate made him nearly impossible to contain for an Indiana defense that struggled all evening. It was the kind of performance that underscores Miller’s continued development as a cornerstone piece for the Hornets’ future.
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets — 8 AST
Ball led all players with 8 assists, operating as the engine of Charlotte’s offense. His playmaking — particularly during that dominant second quarter — helped unlock the Hornets’ attack and kept Indiana’s defense scrambling. Ball’s vision and ability to find cutters and shooters in rhythm was on full display.
Moussa Diabate, Charlotte Hornets — 11 REB
Diabate quietly put together a strong night on the glass, pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds to anchor Charlotte’s effort on the boards. The Hornets finished with 46 total rebounds compared to Indiana’s 37, and Diabate was a major reason why. His interior presence gave Charlotte second-chance opportunities and helped limit Indiana’s transition opportunities.
Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers — 20 PTS, 7 AST
On a tough night for Indiana, Nembhard was the Pacers’ most productive player, finishing with 20 points and 7 assists. He led the team in both categories and earned the highest ESPN rating on Indiana’s roster. Nembhard worked hard to keep Indiana competitive, but the second-quarter meltdown made his efforts moot. Jarace Walker added a team-high 6 rebounds off the bench for the Pacers.
Game Analysis
The numbers tell the story clearly. Charlotte shot 55.8 percent from the field compared to Indiana’s 47.1 percent, and the Hornets were extraordinary from three-point range — connecting on 22-of-46 attempts (47.8%) compared to Indiana’s 11-of-35 (31.4%). That discrepancy from beyond the arc is enormous over 48 minutes. Charlotte also dominated in assists, dishing out 35 compared to Indiana’s 28, reflecting a more fluid and connected offensive system on the night.
The second quarter remains the defining moment. Indiana’s 12-point second period was a complete organizational failure — poor shot selection, defensive breakdowns, and a Charlotte offense that simply found its rhythm all at once. Allowing 36 points in a single quarter to a team that was trailing entering that period is the kind of lapse that leads to blowout losses, and that’s exactly what happened here. The Pacers never recovered psychologically or tactically.
Charlotte’s road performance also deserves recognition. Coming into Indianapolis and posting 133 points on 55.8% shooting is not a fluke — it reflects a Hornets team that, when healthy and engaged, is capable of beating anyone on any given night.
Standings and Series Implications
With the win, the Charlotte Hornets improve to 29-31 on the season, keeping them in the conversation for the Eastern Conference play-in tournament with meaningful games remaining. Their road record now stands at an impressive 17-15 — better than their home mark — which speaks to their ability to perform away from the Spectrum Center. For the Indiana Pacers, the loss drops them to a difficult 15-45 overall, and at 10-21 at home, Gainbridge Fieldhouse has not been the haven they need it to be as the season winds down. Indiana now faces a long road ahead as they look toward the offseason and roster evaluation. Charlotte, meanwhile, will look to build on this performance as they push for postseason positioning over the final stretch of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.
