Shorthanded Hornets Open at Brooklyn With Backcourt Questions

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Charlotte's injury list and turnover problems give Brooklyn the edge in the season opener.

CHA @ BKN Oct 21, 2026 at 11:30 PM UTC

Charlotte begins its 2026-27 season on the road against Brooklyn, and the first question is who will actually be on the floor. Coby White (calf strain) and Kon Knueppel (hamstring strain) are both uncertain, with no definitive timetable for either. That is a starting guard and a key young wing, and losing them strips the Hornets of ball handling and shot creation in the game that most needs it.

The preseason finale against Memphis offers the best clue to the lineup. Charlotte started Schroder, Miller, O'Neale, Reid and Diabate there, though an earlier projection had Allen in place of O'Neale. Allen is now questionable after missing three straight games with knee soreness, and Grant Williams is out after missing the entire preseason with a hamstring injury. Charlotte could be missing as many as four expected rotation players, which leaves little room for error. Pat Connaughton's waiver matters less, since he was a minor piece last season, but it does leave the roster thinner for the opener.

The bigger worry is carryover from the preseason. Charlotte went 1-2, lost to Brooklyn and Boston, and averaged 23 turnovers per game. Without White and possibly Knueppel, a backcourt already prone to giveaways has fewer reliable creators to settle things down. Brooklyn does not need to be spectacular to benefit. Turnovers that become transition chances can quickly stretch a game against a short bench.

Charlotte should compete with its starters, but fatigue and depth issues are likely to surface in the second half. Brooklyn has the advantage at home against a depleted opponent that struggled to protect the ball in its last meeting with the Nets. I expect a close game for three quarters before the Nets pull away late.

Prediction: Brooklyn 109, Charlotte 101.

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