October 22, 2026 at 5:55 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Hornets Beat Nets 110-103 in Opener Despite Thin Backcourt

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Charlotte played without Coby White, Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams and still left Brooklyn with a 110-103 win, as Julius Randle's 33 points went for nothing.

The Charlotte Hornets opened their season with a 110-103 win over the Brooklyn Nets, and they did it shorthanded. Coby White, Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams were all out, still working back from calf and hamstring strains. The reports had all three close to returning, but close doesn't help on opening night. It left Dennis Schroder to run the offense for 35 minutes, and he gave Charlotte 19 points and six assists.

With the guard rotation thinned, the scoring fell to Brandon Miller and Grayson Allen. Miller scored 18 over 36 minutes, a workmanlike night that came with one assist. Allen was sharper, with 21 points in 29 minutes off the bench. Naz Reid did the most complete work, finishing with 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the game's only double-double. Moussa Diabate added 17 points and eight rebounds.

Brooklyn got a big night from its new centerpiece and still came up short. Julius Randle, acquired in the trade with Minnesota, scored 33 with eight rebounds and seven assists over 38 minutes, the most of anyone on the floor. Michael Porter Jr. gave him real company with 26 points and seven rebounds, a good early sign for a pairing that Brooklyn's playoff hopes lean on. The rest of the lineup offered far less. Keon Ellis had seven points and Egor Demin four.

The night also served as a first look at some things both teams are still sorting out. Charlotte is trying to build on a play-in season in which it finished in the top 10 in net rating, now without LaMelo Ball, who is gone after the offseason move. Brooklyn gave Demin 27 minutes as a starter and used Mikel Brown Jr. (six points in 20 minutes) and Nolan Traore (three in 16) behind him. At center, Day'Ron Sharpe got the start and had eight points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes, while Moritz Wagner played 16 and scored seven. Sharpe has the early lead, but it's early.

Sources

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