Young Hornets star celebrates birthday early with career game

Not only did Miller score a career-high 38 points in the Charlotte Hornets' 123-121 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons, he became the first NBA player in recent memory to wish himself a happy birthday in his postgame interview.

It was an incredible two-way performance for the 2024 All-Rookie first-teamer. On offense, he hit a career-high eight three-pointers, with the last two coming in the last two minutes of overtime to close out the Pistons. Neither of them was by any means an easy shot.

On defense, Miller had four steals, including one where he elevated to snatch a Wendell Moore pass out of the air. It's rare — and impressive — to see a defensive player not only disrupt an alley-oop pass, but to come down with it himself.

Detroit cut it to two points in the final seconds, when Jaden Ivey his the first of two free throws. Ivey did an amazing job of missing the second shot on purpose and popping the ball up to give his teammates a chance at the offensive board. 

Tobias Harris corralled it, but Miller was there to knock the ball out of his hands and clinch the game.

It was a career performance from Miller, who looks like the second star Charlotte has been searching for next to LaMelo Ball. Ball was pretty good himself Thursday, finishing with 35 points and nine assists. 

Amazingly, it's the first time in the two decades of their franchise history that the Hornets have had two players score 35 points or more in the same game.

Ball has been driving the Hornets offense (when healthy) for his whole career. In Miller, he finally has a potentially great scorer as the target for his passes. Beyond Ball and Miller, it's not clear who will be part of the next great Hornets team, but Ball and Miller are looking like an excellent foundation.

Plus, Ball is only 23 years old. And as Miller reminded everyone after the game, he was still only 21 on Thursday night.