Hornets beat the Pacers 129-108 for their 8th win in 10 games

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 22 points, Kon Knueppel added 20 and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Indiana Pacers 129-108 on Friday night for their eighth victory in 10 games.

Miles Bridges scored 19 points and LaMelo Ball had 18 points and nine assists to help the Hornets improve to 42-26. Charlotte was 24 of 49 from 3-point range.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 30 points. The Pacers (18-59) had won two in a row.

The Hornets entered the night in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings — 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia and Toronto.

They left no doubt about this one.

Behind a flurry of early 3-pointers — including three in the first quarter from reserve Sion James — the Hornets raced to a 31-11 lead. Charlotte shot 14 of 27 from 3-point range in the first half to take a 69-50 lead.

Knueppel, who set the franchise record for 3s in a season Thursday night against Phoenix, finished 3 of 7 from beyond the arc and also showed versatility in his game with a coast-to-coast layup.

Ball had five 3s while Miller and James finished with four each. James had 13 points, two shy of his career high.

Quenton Jackson added 16 points for Indiana.

Pacers: At Cleveland on Sunday night.

Hornets: At Minnesota on Sunday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball reacts after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White, right, drives into Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White (3) moves the ball against Indiana Pacers guard Kam Jones (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson (55) battles Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, right, for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

PHOENIX (AP) — UConn's Geno Auriemma was not a happy man.

With the officiating. With his team's performance. With South Carolina coach Dawn Staley.

The Huskies coach ripped into the officiating crew during a live TV interview and then got into a heated argument with Staley in the final seconds of their 62-48 loss to the Gamecocks in the national semifinals of the women's Final Four on Friday night.

“There were six fouls called that quarter — all of them against us," Auriemma said on the broadcast. "And they’ve been beating the (expletive) out of our guys down there the entire game. I’m not making excuses, ’cause we haven’t been able to make a shot. But this is ridiculous.

“Their coach rants and raves on the sideline and calls the referee some names you don’t want to hear. And now we get 6 to 0, and I got a kid with a ripped jersey, and they go, ‘I didn’t see it.’ Come on, man. It’s for a national championship.”

Auriemma wasn't finished showing his displeasure. The 72-year-old coach walked toward Staley in the final seconds of the game before the two had an angry exchange, with assistants having to get in between them.

Once the game finally ended, Auriemma slowly walked off the court and down the tunnel without shaking hands with the Gamecocks.

UConn's frustration boiled over after a brutal offensive night for the team's All-America combo of Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. Strong finished with just 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Fudd scored eight on 3-of-15 shooting, including 2 of 9 from long range.

It's true that it was a physical game. Bodies were flying under the basket for the majority of the night for both teams. UConn was whistled for 17 fouls, while South Carolina was called for eight.

The problem for Strong and Fudd was they couldn't hit shots even when they had a little space to operate. And their teammates couldn't pick up the slack. UConn’s Kayleigh Heckel missed a layup late in the game and the broadcast showed her starting to cry walking back down court.

Teammates encouraged her and one even lifted her chin, but the damage was done.

UConn's 54-game winning streak is over.

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, left, and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma motions towards the court during the first half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game between UConn and South Carolina at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma reacts after during the second half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game between UConn and South Carolina at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma reacts during the second half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game between UConn and South Carolina at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, left, and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)