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Only weeks after tipping off their 2026 preseason against the Brooklyn Nets, the Charlotte Hornets are set to face the same opponent in their regular-season opener on Wednesday. That preseason meeting ended in a lopsided 34-point defeat for Charlotte, and it highlighted two critical areas—turnovers and rebounding—that the team must correct to avoid a similar outcome.
Brooklyn, coming off a 20-win campaign, bolstered its roster this offseason by acquiring former All-NBA forward Julius Randle and selecting Louisville’s Mikel Brown with the sixth overall pick. In the preseason matchup, Brown did not play, while Randle logged just 18 minutes and scored 13 points. Charlotte, meanwhile, was severely short-handed, missing starters Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Coby White, as well as key reserve Grant Williams. The result was a 34-point loss in which the Hornets were outplayed in turnovers (25 to 12), rebounding, and three-point shooting. Although Charlotte attempted four more free throws, it made only two more, failing to compensate for its other deficiencies.
Turnovers, rebounding, and shooting efficiency are pivotal in determining NBA outcomes, and Charlotte’s struggles in these areas were especially damaging given its reliance on second-chance points and perimeter shooting. The Hornets will need to address these weaknesses if they hope to start the regular season on a winning note.
Brandon Miller will return for the opener, but White, Knueppel, and Williams remain sidelined. Despite being listed as 1.5-point favorites by sportsbooks, Charlotte faces an uphill battle to return to Spectrum Center on Friday with a winning record.
Key Analysis
1. Win the Rebound Battle
The Boston Celtics’ recent loss to the Detroit Pistons, in which they blew a 23-point lead after Detroit dominated the offensive glass in the second half, serves as a cautionary tale. Like Boston, Charlotte depends heavily on three-point shooting and offensive rebounds. Moussa Diabaté, one of the Hornets’ most active offensive rebounders, will face a tough matchup against Day’Ron Sharpe, who ranked fourth in the league in offensive rebounding last season. Sharpe’s presence could be a difference-maker. Brooklyn also added Mo Wagner, who ranked 103rd in defensive rebounding, while Sharpe ranked 61st. On the offensive end, the Nets can exploit a Hornets frontcourt where Diabaté ranks 211th in defensive rebounding and Ryan Kalkbrenner ranks 127th. Although Diabaté was third in offensive rebounding, his matchup with one of the league’s best rebounders will be challenging. In the preseason game, Sharpe out-rebounded Diabaté despite playing fewer minutes. If Charlotte wants to win on Wednesday, it must control the glass. As Joe Mazzulla recently said, “Three average shots is better than one really good shot”—a philosophy the Hornets may need to embrace.
2. Limit the Turnovers
Turnovers were a major issue for Charlotte in the preseason, as evidenced by the 25-12 disparity against Brooklyn. While the Nets don’t force many turnovers as a team, Julius Randle ranked 103rd in turnovers forced last season, Day’Ron Sharpe was 78th, and Keon Ellis was 12th. With the league-wide trend of maximizing possessions, Charlotte’s roster has seen some improvement in offensive turnover numbers despite the preseason struggles. Among the new additions, Dennis Schröder, likely to start at point guard, ranked 108th in that category last season. Grayson Allen was 14th, and Naz Reid was 123rd (84th the season before). Returning players Brandon Miller, Sion James, and Kon Knueppel ranked in the 400s, 500s, and 300s, respectively. Coby White, who ranked 19th in the league last season, should help when he returns. Ultimately, Charlotte’s goal should be to generate good shots without sacrificing possessions. The Hornets don’t need to eliminate every mistake, but they cannot afford another game where turnovers consistently prevent them from establishing an offensive rhythm. White’s eventual return should provide another capable ball handler and ease the burden on Schröder. Until then, Charlotte must demonstrate it can execute its offense with the available personnel.
The Bottom Line
Charlotte’s preseason loss exposed two areas where the team will lose if they struggle: rebounds and turnovers. While Brandon Miller’s return should improve the offense, the absences of White, Knueppel, and Williams will still leave significant responsibilities for the rest of Charles Lee’s rotation. The Hornets cannot afford to give Brooklyn extra possessions through turnovers or allow the Nets to control the glass. If Charlotte can protect the ball and limit Sharpe’s impact on the boards, it will have a much better chance of starting the season with a victory.