Charlotte Hornets find themselves in a tough spot heading into their NBA Cup opener against the Miami Heat. With two of their key backcourt players, LaMelo Ball and Collin Sexton, both listed as doubtful, the team faces the challenge of reshuffling its rotation and finding reliable contributors to step up. Ball has missed consecutive games due to an ankle injury, while Sexton’s strained neck leaves his status uncertain — a double blow to Charlotte’s offensive rhythm and playmaking core.
Bridges to take command of the offense
With Ball and Sexton sidelined, much of the offensive responsibility will fall on Miles Bridges, the Hornets’ second-leading scorer this season. Bridges has been in strong form, averaging 21.5 points per game on 41.9% shooting. His ability to create his own shot and drive the offense makes him the natural focal point in this situation.
If the Charlotte Hornets hope to stay competitive, Bridges will need to take on an even greater scoring load — something he’s capable of, having already shown flashes of 30-point performances earlier in the season.
Rookie Kon Knueppel ready for the spotlight
The silver lining for Charlotte lies in the emergence of rookie Kon Knueppel, who’s been quietly impressive in his debut campaign. Knueppel has quickly established himself as one of the most reliable perimeter shooters in this year’s rookie class, converting over 40% of his three-point attempts while averaging 14.8 points per game.
His consistency and poise under pressure make him a strong secondary option behind Bridges. Expect the Hornets to draw up more off-ball sets and perimeter plays for Knueppel, especially given his knack for punishing defenses when left open.
Sion James and Tre Mann expected to step up
In the absence of both Ball and Sexton, Charlotte will likely turn to Sion James and Tre Mann to handle extended minutes in the backcourt. James, who has started three games this season and averages 24.3 minutes, has shown steady defensive presence and the ability to move the ball efficiently.
Meanwhile, Mann — averaging 10.0 points in roughly 21 minutes per game — has demonstrated flashes of scoring ability and can help stretch the floor when needed. Both guards will need to adapt quickly to larger roles, managing the ball distribution and tempo that Ball usually controls.
The Charlotte Hornets’ depth will be tested as they navigate this critical stretch of the NBA Cup without two of their top five scorers.