DENVER (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 23 points, Tidjane Salaun came off the bench for 13 points and 11 rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets blew past the injury-depleted Denver Nuggets 110-87 on Sunday night.
Rookie big man Ryan Kalkbrenner had 17 points and six rebounds, Collin Sexton had 14 points and five assists, and LaMelo Ball had 10 points, six assists and three steals for Charlotte.
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Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, looks to shoot for a basket over Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, center, drives to the net between Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, left, and guard Jalen Pickett in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson, right, blocks a shot by Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) fouls Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton, top right, who drives to the basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball reacts after dunking the ball for a basket as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray looks on in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Over the past three games, Miller has averaged 25.7 points per game.
The Hornets had lost four of their previous six games and entered the night 1-9 in its past 10 matchups against Denver, which suffered its second-most lopsided loss of the season.
The Nuggets were without five of their top eight scorers — center Nikola Jokic (bone bruise in left knee), forward Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), forward Cameron Johnson (bone bruise in right knee), guard Christian Braun (left ankle sprain) and center Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain). The five players combine to average 77.3 points per game.
Without them, a Denver team that leads the NBA in points per game, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage was held to season lows in points (87) and 3-point percentage (21.1%).
Charlotte raced out to a 29-11 lead and was up 60-34 at halftime, led by 18 points from Miller, who made four of his six 3s in the first half. The Hornets led by as many as 33 points in the second half.
Jamal Murray scored a team-high 16 points for the Nuggets, snapping a career-best run of three consecutive games with at least 30 points.
Denver, which had won six of its previous seven games, fell to 7-5 since Jokic went down with an injury in a Dec. 29 loss at the Miami Heat.
Hornets: Return home to face the Cavaliers on Wednesday night after a five-game road trip.
Nuggets: Host the Lakers on Tuesday night.
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Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, looks to shoot for a basket over Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté (14) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, center, drives to the net between Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, left, and guard Jalen Pickett in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson, right, blocks a shot by Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) fouls Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton, top right, who drives to the basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball reacts after dunking the ball for a basket as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray looks on in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
CHICAGO (AP) — Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams survived an incredible throw by Caleb Williams that forced overtime, beating the Chicago Bears 20-17 on Sunday night to advance to the NFC championship game.
Harrison Mevis kicked a 42-yard field goal in OT after Kam Curl intercepted a deep pass by Williams on the Bears’ first possession of the extra period. Stafford completed a 16-yard pass to Puka Nacua to get the Rams into field-goal range and set up Mevis, known as the “Thiccer Kicker,” for the game-ending kick. He was mobbed by teammates while a crowd that was rocking earlier watched in near silence.
The Rams (14-5) will visit NFC West rival Seattle next Sunday in their first trip to the conference championship game since the 2021 team won the Super Bowl. The Seahawks beat San Francisco 41-6 on Saturday.
“It was crazy,” Stafford said. “It was back and forth. We didn’t play our best on offense. Our defense dominated the game. It was unbelievable to watch. Hell of a play on fourth down by Caleb to get his team to overtime. And just glad we got the ball back.”
Los Angeles led 17-10 in the final minute and the Bears faced fourth-and-4 from the 14-yard line when Williams backpedaled to avoid the pass rush and heaved the ball to Cole Kmet for the tying touchdown with 18 seconds left. Although officially a 14-yard pass, the ball traveled 51.2 yards in the air, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
Williams threw for two touchdowns but was intercepted three times as the Bears (12-7) — who pulled off seven fourth-quarter comeback wins under first-year coach Ben Johnson — came up short this time. They won the NFC North after finishing last in the division a year ago.
Stafford led a 91-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, with Kyren Williams scoring from the 5 to give the Rams a 17-10 lead with 8:50 remaining. Nacua kept the possession going on the previous play with a 2-yard run on fourth-and-5.
The Bears then drove to the 2, but Omar Speights broke up Williams’ fourth-down pass to Luther Burden just inside the goal line.
Chicago got the ball back at midfield with just under two minutes remaining after Ethan Evans shanked a 33-yard punt, setting up Williams' heroics.
In overtime, the Bears won the toss and deferred. They quickly got the ball back when the Rams went three-and-out, forced to punt after Blake Corum was stopped for a 1-yard loss on third-and-1 at the 36.
Chicago took over at the 16. Williams kept the drive going with a 3-yard keeper on fourth-and-1 near midfield. But Curl picked off Williams' pass intended for DJ Moore two plays later.
Stafford was 20 of 42 for 258 yards and took four sacks. Nacua had 56 yards receiving after going for 111 in a wild-card win over Carolina, and Kyren Williams ran for 87 yards and two scores.
Caleb Williams completed 23 of 42 passes for 257 yards. Moore had a touchdown catch, and D'Andre Swift ran for 76 yards.
Rams: CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (shoulder) was hurt in the first half.
Rams: Face Seattle for the third time this season. The teams split their earlier meetings.
Bears: Prepare for next season.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams, front, scores a touchdown after evading a tackle by Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, bottom, recovers his own fumble as he is sacked by Chicago Bears defensive end Dominique Robinson during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet makes a touchdown catch in the final seconds of regulation of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws a touchdown pass to tight end Cole Kmet, not visible, as Los Angeles Rams linebacker Josaiah Stewart (10) and linebacker Jared Verse (8) apply pressure during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker, left, breaks up a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) goes airborne after taking a hit from Los Angeles Rams safety Kam Curl, bottom, as linebacker Nate Landman, back, looks on during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, bottom, grabs at the shirt of Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee while defending on a catch during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis, center, reacts with holder Ethan Evans, center right, and teammates after booting a game-winning field goal during overtime of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
