Charlotte Hornets rookie Brandon Miller recently suffered a horrifying injury that sent him back to the locker room against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. He took a hard fall from a flagrant foul. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft managed to get on his feet but was immediately placed in concussion protocol.
Brandon Miller sustained a lower back contusion
Later, the team announced that Miller was doubtful to make his return to the game as he suffered a lower back contusion and ultimately, didn’t return.
In the second quarter of the clash, the Hornets scored a steal and Brandon Miller took off the other way on the break. LaMelo Ball, who’s back in the lineup after nearly missing nearly two months with an ankle injury, delivered a pinpoint outlet pass that Miller took.
As he lept for the rim, Keldon Johnson rose with him and hit his arm instead of the ball. The contact sent Miller crashing back to the floor, where he landed hard on his back and had his head snap back in horrific developments.
Brandon Miller is headed to the locker room after taking this hard fall. pic.twitter.com/q34UxV0iy1
— Bally Sports: Hornets (@HornetsOnBally) January 13, 2024
The officials reviewed the situation and upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 1 on Johnson because he came “with speed and delivered unnecessary contact when the player had a potential for injury that was high,” according to crew cheif Ben Taylor. As Miller went to the locker room under the concussion protocol, the Hornets were allowed to pick any player on the court to shoot the free throws.
Charlotte Hornets suffer major blow
Ahead of the game, Brandon Miller was averaging 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists through the first 31 games of his debut season. Among rookies, only No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama and 2022 No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren are scoring more than Miller. In addition, Miller is shooting 37.9% from 3-point land and was tied for the rookie lead in 3s per game with 2.1.
If Miller is on the sidelines for a considerable period, it would be a major blow for the Hornets. After his injury, the Hornets suffered a crushing loss 135-99, to San Antonio. The loss puts the Hornets at 8-28 for the season, the third-worst mark in the Eastern Conference.
