Brandon Miller's late free throws help Hornets beat the Pacers 113-109 and snap 8-game skid

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Brandon Miller hit two free throws in the final seconds and finished with 26 points as the Charlotte Hornets snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 113-109 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.

Vasa Micic added 18 points and nine assists as Charlotte overcame 24 turnovers by shooting 51% from the field. Cody Martin finished with 14 points and six rebounds and Nick Richards had nine points and 14 rebounds.

T.J. McConnell scored a career-high 30 points and had six assists for the Pacers, who have lost five of their last six games. Jarace Walker added 15 points.

The banged-up Hornets prevailed without three of their top four scorers in LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Tre Mann, who average a combined 61.2 points.

Hornets: Because of all the injuries, first-year coach Charles Lee has never had his full complement of core players on the floor together, and this victory was a testament to perseverance. Mark Williams, expected to be the Hornets’ starting center, was a late scratch as he continues his recovery from a strained tendon in his left foot.

Pacers: Questions have arisen about what is wrong with Indiana, which went to the Eastern Conference finals last season. Indiana is off to a 10-15 start this season.

Miller, who added six rebounds and five assists, hit two free throws with 7.2 seconds left to put the game out of reach after Indiana had pulled within two.

The Pacers were outrebounded 45-29.

The Hornets are at the Chicago Bulls on Friday. On the same day, the Pacers play at the Philadelphia 76ers.

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Charlotte Hornets' Cody Martin and Indiana Pacers' Pascal Siakam battle for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indiana Pacers' T.J. McConnell goes to the basket against Charlotte Hornets' Nick Richards (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Charlotte Hornets' Cody Martin (11) looks to pass the ball against Indiana Pacers' Enrique Freeman, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Charlotte Hornets' Vasilije Micic is defended by Indiana Pacers' T.J. McConnell (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indiana Pacers' Andrew Nembhard (2) makes a pass against Charlotte Hornets' Vasilije Micic during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indiana Pacers' T.J. McConnell (9) shoots over Charlotte Hornets' Isaiah Wong (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indiana Pacers' T.J. McConnell, left, heads to the basket against Charlotte Hornets' Vasilije Micic, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indiana Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin is fouled by Charlotte Hornets' Taj Gibson as he goes up for a shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Charlotte Hornets' Brandon Miller (24) goes to the basket against Indiana Pacers' Obi Toppin (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Charlotte Hornets' Brandon Miller dunks against Indiana Pacers' Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s motorcade took a different route than usual to the airport as he was departing Florida on Sunday due to a “suspicious object,” according to the White House.

The object, which the White House did not describe, was discovered during security sweeps in advance of Trump’s arrival at Palm Beach International Airport.

“A further investigation was warranted and the presidential motorcade route was adjusted accordingly,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Sunday.

The president, when asked about the package by reporters, said, “I know nothing about it.”

Trump left his Palm Beach, Florida, club, Mar-a-Lago, around 6:20 p.m. for the roughly 10-minute drive to the airport, but took a circular route around the city to get there.

During the drive, police officers on motorcycles created a moving blockade for the motorcade, at one point almost colliding with the vans that accompanied Trump.

Air Force One was parked on the opposite side of the airport from where it is usually located and the lights outside the plane were turned off.

Anthony Guglielmi, the spokesman for U.S. Secret Service, said the secondary route was taken just as a precaution and that “that is standard protocol.”

President Donald Trump departs Trump International Golf Club in the presidential limousine, known as The Beast, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)