Charlotte Hornets take down Bucks in can’t-miss game by rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner
The Charlotte Hornets won a big one at home Wednesday night and ended a three-game losing streak.
Six players scored in double figures as Charlotte posted a 111-100 win against the Milwaukee Bucks at Spectrum Center, building an early lead and pulling away from the team that entered Wednesday tied for third place in the Eastern Conference.
Hornets rookie center Ryan Kalkbrenner made 8 of 8 shots from the field in his 17-point performance, and forward Miles Bridges scored a team-high 20 points. Guards Collin Sexton and Kon Knueppel each posted 16 points.
Kalkbrenner’s wife gave birth to their daughter, the family’s first child, just a day earlier. Rachael Saunders Kalkbrenner, a former Creighton women’s basketball player, encouraged her husband to play in Wednesday night’s game, and he had one of the best games in his young NBA career.
“I definitely didn’t get enough sleep (Tuesday) night to play with as much as energy as I thought I did,” Kalkbrenner said with a laugh. “Obviously, first-born child, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. I was taking it minute-by-minute — and I wasn’t even the one doing any of the work. My wife did a great job. I’m glad I was able to be there and support her. She loves watching games, so she was like, ‘I think you should play (Wednesday night). Could be a good distraction to watch the games.’ It’s been a crazy 24, 30 hours, whatever it’s been, but definitely the best couple days of my life.”
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo missed Wednesday’s game with a patella injury. Guard Ryan Rollins scored 25 points to lead all scorers, while center Myles Turner added 21 points for Milwaukee.
The Hornets jumped in front early
Kalkbrenner, who is shooting 80.8% from the field this season to lead the NBA, didn’t miss a shot against Milwaukee. He also had nine rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Hornets battled early and took the lead late in the opening quarter. Charlotte forward Pat Connaughton entered at the start of the second quarter and racked up 4 of his 13 points during his first minute of action, helping the Hornets build their lead against his former team.
Power forward Moussa Diabaté grabbed a team-best 13 rebounds and guard Tre Mann, who finished with 13 points, nailed a 3-pointer from roughly 37 feet away during the final minute of the first half as the Hornets pulled away.
“The speed is definitely different,” Kalkbrenner said. “That shorter shot clock makes it to where, in college, you sometimes can catch a break because you walk it up, take a few seconds before getting into a play, and there’s not enough time to do that here in the NBA. You’re up and down, up and down constantly, but this is part of it. And the good part about it is you play so much, you get in shape pretty fast. It’s definitely been a little bit of an adjustment, but it’s been good. I feel like I’m getting more comfortable very game.”
In the third quarter, Kalkbrenner grabbed the rebound from a missed shot and nailed his own bucket before blocking a Kyle Kuzma layup on the other end of the floor. He snagged another defensive rebound, backed down his defender and made a hook shot that extended Charlotte’s third-quarter advantage, and Mann hit a 3-pointer that made it 75-56.
Sexton and Bridges got to the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and capitalized, giving Charlotte its biggest lead of the night — 22 points. Hornets veteran Mason Plumlee entered for the final minutes of the fourth quarter to a roar from the crowd.
“We all played connected, and that’s the fun way to play,” Bridges said. “Getting out in transition. Getting stops. It was great for everybody. … Everybody’s happy for (Kalkbrenner), and he’s been great for us all year.”
‘I’m glad we found a way to get (Kalkbrenner) here’
Charlotte played a strong third quarter Wednesday, and led by more than 20 points for much of the second half.
A low-scoring period immediately following halftime doomed the Hornets in their most recent loss Monday. They played stronger team basketball and didn’t look back after jumping ahead during the opening stages.
It was also a particularly efficient night from Kalkbrenner, who becomes the fourth Hornets rookie to score 15 points on 100% shooting, alongside Brad Miller, Mark Williams and Cody Zeller.
“(Kalkbrenner) is not trying to do too much,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee said. “He understands what his role is and where he needs to be on the floor, his screening, his ability to roll. He’s got great hands, so our players trust throwing it up to lobs or on the glass. He’s able to come up with some offensive rebounds. … The fact he’s shooting such a great percentage is a testament to him, but also his teammates trusting him down there and finding him.
“And I’m glad we found a way to get him here (Wednesday). Because he definitely helped and impacted the game.”
What’s next for the Hornets?
Charlotte continues its home-and-home against the Bucks at 8 p.m. Friday at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
This story was originally published November 12, 2025 at 10:20 PM with the headline "Charlotte Hornets take down Bucks in can’t-miss game by rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner."
