The Charlotte Hornets saw their first preseason game of the 2026-27 season end in defeat, as they fell to the Brooklyn Nets 124-90. The Hornets stayed competitive throughout the first two quarters, entering halftime trailing 56-52, with new trade acquisitions Grayson Allen and Naz Reid combining for half (26 points) of Charlotte's first half total.
With six players inactive, Brooklyn took advantage of Charlotte's thin rotation, outscoring them by 30 in the final 24 minutes. Entering the starting lineup for the injured Brandon Miller, Liam McNeeley led the Hornets in scoring, tallying 14 points in 19 minutes while shooting 66.7% from beyond the arc.
For the Nets, it was Michael Porter Jr. who got to work quickly, scoring a game-high 16 points in 17
minutes on 6-for-9 shooting, including an efficient 4-for-6 shooting night from downtown. Brooklyn's marquee trade acquisition Julius Randle also made his presence felt, posting 13 points, three assists, two rebounds and one steal in 18 minutes.
Take a look at the best images from Charlotte's preseason opener against the Nets:
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Photos: Best images from Hornets' 124-90 preseason loss to Nets
