Charlotte Hornets 110–103 Brooklyn Nets: match recap

Match recap

Charlotte Hornets opened their season with a 110-103 road win over the Brooklyn Nets, using a dominant shooting night and a plus-6 rebounding margin to control the game. Despite 59 combined points from Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle, Brooklyn couldn't overcome a 13.2 eFG% gap in favor of Charlotte.

The Hornets dictated the tempo from the opening tip, shooting 57.8% from the field and winning the rebounding battle 44-38. Dennis Schroder (19 points, 6 assists) and Naz Reid (20 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists) orchestrated the offense, while Grayson Allen provided a spark off the bench with 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting. The Nets, powered by Porter's 5 triples and Randle's 33 points, stayed within striking distance but never led after the first quarter. Charlotte's supporting cast outscored Brooklyn's bench 33-25, and the Hornets' 26 assists reflected better ball movement. The game featured zero turnovers from either side—a statistical oddity that highlighted clean execution but didn't shift the advantage, which stayed firmly with Charlotte.

Key factors

• Charlotte's eFG% advantage of +13.2, driven by 57.8% FG shooting and 10 more makes on similar attempts
• Hornets controlled the glass 44-38, led by Reid's 11 rebounds and Moussa Diabate's 8, limiting Brooklyn to one-and-done possessions
• Bench scoring tilt (33-25) with Allen's 21 points as the decisive difference in a seven-point game

The Analyst's take

Charlotte's shooting efficiency and rebounding were the clear statistical drivers, and those are sustainable traits for a team with this personnel. The Nets showed offensive firepower from Porter and Randle, but their defensive lapses and lack of bench depth behind that duo will need addressing. Per ESPN, Brooklyn was already without Tyler Bilodeau (shoulder) for the opener, and Charlotte's healthier rotation gave them a clear advantage in depth.