ATLANTA (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets will be without guard Brandon Miller, one of the team’s best players, for at least a week because of a strained left glute.

After suffering the injury, Miller sat out the second half of the Hornets 110-105 victory in Houston to open the season. The Hornets said Friday night before the game in Atlanta that Miller will be evaluated in a week, meaning the towering point guard is expected to miss at least three games.

The Hornets were also without starting center Mark Williams, who has a strained tendon in his left foot, against the Hawks. Missing two starters in just the second game of the season was a painful reminder of injury problems that have persisted over the past two seasons, helping to extend the team’s playoff drought to eight years.

The team’s top player, point guard LaMelo Ballhas played in just 58 of 164 games over the past two seasons due to ankle injuries. Ball scored 34 points against Houston in his first game since January.

Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 draft, averaged 17.3 points and 4.3 rebounds as a rookie.

Hornets first-year coach Charles Lee said “a total team effort” would be needed to fill the void left by Miller’s injury. “He brings a lot to both ends of the floor.”

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