The Brooklyn Nets opened their 2025–26 season on the road Wednesday night and were handed a humbling 136-117 loss by the Charlotte Hornets. Brooklyn struggled to find rhythm on either end of the floor and trailed by double digits for most of the second half.
Center Nic Claxton was one of the few bright spots for the Nets, finishing with 17 points on an efficient 8-for-12 shooting. He added four rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes. Rookie first-round pick Egor Demin also provided a spark off the bench, scoring 14 points while shooting 4-for-6 from 3-point range. His performance served as a glimpse of promise for Brooklyn’s long-term development.
However, defensive breakdowns plagued the rest of the roster. Charlotte found open looks from beyond the arc consistently, and the statistics reflected the miscues. The Hornets scored 77 points in the first half alone — seven shy of their franchise record for points in any half — and shot 53.3% from 3-point range through two quarters. Overall, Charlotte’s 136 points finished just two shy of cracking the franchise’s top-10 single-game scoring performances.
The Nets also struggled inside, getting outrebounded 50-38 and outscored 60-46 in the paint. Brooklyn’s transition defense proved costly as well, giving up 23 fast-break points while scoring just five of their own.
Brooklyn will have a rest and recovery day Thursday before returning home to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night at Barclays Center. The Nets will look to tighten their defensive assignments and rebound positioning as they seek their first win of the young season.
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