Hornets' Miles Bridges: Nears double-double in victory
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Bridges closed with 22 points (8-15 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 3-3 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and two steals over 38 minutes during Friday's 119-116 victory over the Raptors.
Bridges led all Hornets in rebounds while notching a team-high-tying steals total and finishing as one of four players with 20 or more points in a winning effort. Bridges has surpassed the 20-point mark in five games this season, posting at least 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in two straight contests.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Double-doubles in loss
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Bridges posted 23 points (9-17 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 4-6 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal over 37 minutes during Sunday's 130-117 loss to Orlando.
Bridges has fared well since returning to the lineup for Charlotte. In five total appearances, he's averaging 21.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 three-pointers. He's posting third-round value in nine-category leagues in that span, and the Hornets may need him to soak up even more usage if LaMelo Ball misses time with his ankle injury.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Posts another double-double
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Bridges contributed 33 points (11-18 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 8-10 FT), 10 rebounds and two steals across 37 minutes during Wednesday's 117-114 victory over the Wizards.
Bridges was eased into action as a reserve over his first two appearances of the season, but he's started in the last two matchups and has posted back-to-back double-doubles. He's now averaging 20.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 26.8 minutes per game this year.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Double-doubles in start
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Bridges had 14 points (3-13 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 6-6 FT), 15 rebounds, five assists and one steal over 45 minutes during Monday's 121-118 overtime win over the Celtics.
Bridges moved into the starting lineup Monday, ending with his first double-double of the season. Despite having played only two games this season, Bridges was handed the opening spot he occupied in 2021-22. Poor shooting aside, it was another productive night, continuing his rapid start. Given his presumed role moving forward, there is no way Bridges should be available in any leagues right now.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Will start Monday
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Bridges will start Monday's matchup against the Celtics.
Bridges made his season debut Nov. 17 following a 10-game suspension due to a domestic violence incident. He came off the bench in his first two appearances of the year but played starter-level minutes, averaging 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 32.5 minutes per game. It was only a matter of time before he reclaimed his starting spot over P.J. Washington, though the move shouldn't significantly impact Bridges' playing time.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Drops 17 in season debut
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Bridges amassed 17 points (6-13 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), five rebounds, four assists and two steals across 33 minutes off the bench during Friday's 130-99 loss to the Bucks.
With his suspension over, Bridges saw his first regular-season action since April 2021 and made his season debut for the Hornets on the second unit. He saw a full workload though, and the 25-year-old forward was the team's second-leading scorer behind LaMelo Ball (37 points). P.J. Washington has been erratic lately as Charlotte's starting power forward -- over the last 10 days, he's erupted for 32 points against the Heat on Tuesday but scored a total of just 32 points in his other four games combined on 29.7 percent field-goal shooting -- while Gordon Hayward has had his usual trouble staying healthy and effective. 2023 second overall pick Brandon Miller has been pushing for a bigger role, so with Bridges back in the mix as well, there could be big changes coming in the frontcourt for the 3-8 Hornets.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Slated to come off bench Friday
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Bridges won't start Friday's game against the Bucks, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Bridges, who sat out the entire 2022-23 campaign and the first 10 games of this season due to a domestic violence case, is cleared to suit up for the first time since 2021-22. He started all 80 of his appearances in 2021-22, averaging 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 made three-pointers and 1.7 steals-plus blocks in 35.5 minutes per game, but it looks like he'll be eased back into the rotation as a sixth man. Coach Steve Clifford previously said Bridges would play a significant role, so a move into the starting lineup could happen eventually. With that said, Bridges still has a court date Feb. 20 for allegedly violating a protection order related to the domestic violence incident that caused his hiatus from the NBA, so further discipline could come later in the campaign.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Set to return Friday
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Bridges is eligible to return to the Hornets' active roster for Friday's contest versus the Bucks with his 30-game suspension completed, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Bridges sat out the entire 2022-23 campaign and the first 10 games of this season due to a domestic violence case. While Bridges still has a court date coming up Feb. 20 for allegedly violating a protection order related to the domestic violence incident that occurred more than 16 months ago, head coach Steve Clifford has already said that he envisions the 25-year-old forward filling a significant role for the Hornets now that he's eligible to play again for the first time since the 2021-22 season. Bridges started in all 80 of his appearances that season and averaged career highs across the board (20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 three-pointers, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks in 35.5 minutes), but he could be eased back into the mix as the Hornets' sixth man Friday.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Will play 'significant role'
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Hornets head coach Steve Clifford said Sunday that he expects Bridges (suspension) to play a "significant role right away" when he's first eligible to make his season debut Friday versus the Bucks, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News reports.
Bridges will sit out Sunday against the Knicks and Tuesday against the Heat as he wraps up the final two games of the 30-game suspension he received in April for his role in a 2022 felony domestic violence case involving the mother of his two children. Since Bridges sat out the entire 2022-23 campaign, 20 games of his suspension were considered served, resulting in him missing the first 10 contests of 2023-24. Before he returns from his suspension, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports that Bridges will appear at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse on Monday for a hearing on a criminal summons issued last month for violating a domestic violence protective order, misdemeanor child abuse and injury to personal property. Both the Hornets and NBA acknowledged they were gathering information related to the Oct. 6 incident in question, but in the meantime, Bridges has been regularly practicing with the team in preparation to play when first eligible. Given that Bridges averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 three-pointers in 35.5 minutes per game over 80 appearances in his last NBA action in 2021-22, his upcoming addition should provide a major on-court boost to the Hornets, regardless of whether he's deployed as a starter or sixth man.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Issued criminal summons
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A criminal summons was issued Wednesday for Bridges (suspension) for violating a domestic violence protective order, misdemeanor child abuse and injury to personal property, Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com reports.
According to the copy of the summons that Holmes obtained, the incident in question occurred Oct. 6, when Bridges is alleged to have thrown billiard balls at his former girlfriend's vehicle while their two children were inside, causing damage to the windshield and leaving dents in the car. A hearing pertaining to the matter is scheduled for Nov. 13, four days before Bridges would be eligible to make his 2023-24 debut after he serves the final 10 games of a 30-game suspension he received from the NBA following him pleading no contest last November to a felony domestic violence charge stemming from a June 2022 arrest. Bridges, who sat out the entire 2022-23 season, became a restricted free agent this summer and accepted a $7.9 million qualifying offer to stay with the Hornets. Per the terms of his suspension, Bridges is unable to play in preseason games, and in light of the criminal summons, he may not be available for the Hornets after the final game of the suspension is served Nov. 14.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Officially ineligible for preseason
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Bridges will not be active for Charlotte's preseason contests as a component of his suspension, Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Bridges will still be able to accompany Charlotte on road trips and practice with the team. However, the 25-year-old will miss the entire preseason slate and the first 10 games of the regular season due to his league-mandated suspension. Bridges' first chance to play this season won't come until Nov. 17 versus the Bucks.
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Miles Bridges: Officially a restricted free agent
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Bridges (suspension) is officially a restricted free agent after Charlotte extended him a qualifying offer Wednesday.
Last November, Bridges pleaded no contest to a felony domestic violence charge and was given three years probation but no jail time. The NBA suspended the forward in April for 30 games, with 20 games considered already served given he sat out the entire 2022-23 campaign, so he'll have to miss the first 10 games of next season, regardless of where he ends up in free agency. Bridges' recent legal troubles may turn some teams away this summer, but the 2018 No. 12 overall pick posted career-high numbers in 2021-22, averaging 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
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Miles Bridges: Suspended for 10 games
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The NBA suspended Bridges on Friday for 30 games, with 20 games considered already served, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Bridges, who's currently a free agent after sitting out the entire 2022-23 season, will be suspended for the first 10 games of the 2023-24 campaign due to a felony domestic violence charge he pleaded no contest to in November of last year. The 2018 first-round pick reportedly discussed a new contract with the Hornets in December, but he never inked a deal. His recent legal troubles may limit his overall attention in free agency this offseason, but he posted career-high numbers in 2021-22, averaging 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
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Miles Bridges: Contract talks gaining traction
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Bridges and the Hornets are "gathering traction" in discussions for a new contract, with optimism that an agreement could occur in the relatively near future, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
In November, Bridges pleaded no contest in Los Angeles Superior Court to a felony domestic violence charge, resulting in three years probation and no jail time. If the forward indeed re-ups with Charlotte, the expectation is that the league office will hand him a suspension for a yet-to-be-determined length of time. If no deal occurs, he'll remain a restricted free agent next offseason. The 8-24 Hornets are clearly missing Bridges' production. He's coming off the best season of his career in 2021-22, averaging 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
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Miles Bridges: Pleads no contest, no jail time
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Bridges plead no contest Thursday to a felony domestic violence charge and will face three years probation and no jail time as part of a deal with prosecutors, Baxter Holmes of ESPN reports.
If Bridges signs with a team, the NBA has the right to suspend, fine, dismiss or disqualify him from any further association with the league. The Hornets hold his restricted free agency rights, as the organization extended him a qualifying offer.
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Miles Bridges: Case continued to Oct. 17
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Bridges' domestic violence case was continued Wednesday until Oct. 17, Baxter Holmes of ESPN reports.
Back in July, Bridges pled not guilty to domestic violence charges, and the legal process is still ongoing. At this point, the ultimate outcome is very much unclear, and it remains to be seen if he'll return to playing in the NBA at some point in the future. The Hornets did retain Bridges' rights via extending him a qualifying offer over the summer.
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Miles Bridges: Case extended
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Bridges had his case for domestic violence and child abuse continued until Oct. 7, Joe Vardon of The Athletic reports.
Bridges' future in the NBA is uncertain. While the Hornets retain his rights after extending him a qualifying offer, he will have to wait until his ongoing case is resolved before any further action will be taken.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Facing three felony charges
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Los Angeles County district attorney George Gascon announced Tuesday that Bridges has been formally charged with three felony counts of domestic violence after he was accused last month of assaulting his girlfriend in front of their two children, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
The 24-year-old is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Both the Hornets and NBA are aware of the charges filed against Bridges, with the league also noting that it's conducting its own investigation into the matter. Given the gravity of the charges, Bridges' future in the NBA is uncertain, though the Hornets will retain his rights after extending him a qualifying offer prior to his arrest in late June. Bridges is currently a restricted free agent, and the Hornets will have the right to match any offer sheet he might receive from another team until the qualifying offer is withdrawn.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Arrested for domestic violence
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Bridges was arrested Wednesday for felony domestic violence, Malika Andrews of ESPN.com reports. The Hornets released a statement noting that the organization is aware of the situation and is gathering additional information.
Given the seriousness of the situation, it's possible that Bridges -- a restricted free agent -- could miss time next season. Even if he doesn't have to sit out due to legal ramifications, the league office could issue a suspension. Either way, the arrest could significantly impact teams' level of interest in Bridges in free agency.
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Hornets' Miles Bridges: Ejected Wednesday
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Bridges was ejected during the fourth quarter of Wednesday's game against the Hawks, Brad Rowland of PeachtreeHoops.com reports.
With the Hornets trailing by nearly 30 points late in the fourth quarter, Bridges argued a goaltending call, received a technical foul and was subsequently ejected. He finished the game with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and one block in 30 minutes of action.
