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Nets Rally Past Hornets to Earn First Home Win of Season
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- Nets Rally Past Hornets to Earn First Home Win of Season
(Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
The Brooklyn Nets were looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the New York Knicks and pick up their first home win of the season on Wednesday night. They did exactly that, putting together a dominant second-half performance to defeat the Charlotte Hornets, 114-104, at Barclays Center.
Brooklyn entered the matchup coming off a season-low 90-point performance against New York on Monday . The Nets had also lost to Charlotte, 110-103, on opening night , giving them another reason to come out with something to prove. After a competitive first half, Brooklyn took control following the break and outscored the Hornets 64-47 over the final two quarters.
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Charlotte got off to a slow start offensively, missing its first six shots before Coby White finally put the team on the board more than three minutes into the game. However, the Hornets eventually found their rhythm, with Naz Reid and Grayson Allen helping Charlotte close the first quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 24-21 lead.
Kon Knueppel made his season debut for Charlotte, but his return was short-lived. The rookie exited in the first quarter with left leg soreness and did not return.
The Hornets continued to find success offensively in the second quarter, particularly through Allen, who put together an incredible stretch from beyond the arc. Allen scored 16 points in the period alone, knocking down five three-pointers in the first half to give Charlotte a 57-50 halftime advantage. Reid also provided a strong scoring presence, while Brooklyn struggled to consistently slow down the Hornets' perimeter attack.
Julius Randle led the Nets with 14 points at the break, while Michael Porter Jr. and Brooklyn's young guards helped keep the game within reach. The Nets also lost Noah Clowney for the remainder of the contest due to right knee soreness.
Brooklyn came out with a completely different level of energy in the third quarter. Nolan Traoré knocked down a three-pointer, Randle finished through contact, and Danny Wolf provided an immediate spark off the bench. Wolf connected from deep to cap an 11-0 run that gave Brooklyn its first lead since the opening quarter.
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Wolf continued to make an impact throughout his minutes, bringing energy on both ends of the floor and giving Brooklyn another offensive option. The Nets outscored Charlotte 30-23 in the quarter, erasing the seven-point halftime deficit and sending the game into the fourth tied at 80.
Brooklyn carried that momentum into the final period, and its offense took off. Randle opened the quarter with a three-pointer before Wolf and Mikel Brown Jr. connected from beyond the arc to help the Nets build an early six-point advantage.
Porter Jr. then took over as Brooklyn began creating separation. The veteran forward knocked down three three-pointers in the fourth quarter, giving the Nets some much-needed breathing room. His scoring helped Brooklyn build a double-digit lead, and the Hornets never managed to put together a serious comeback.
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One particularly impressive part of Brooklyn's fourth-quarter performance was that much of its extended run came with Randle on the bench. Wolf continued to deliver, finishing a fast-break opportunity through contact before adding another pair of free throws. He finished with 12 points and a plus-17, the second-best mark on the team behind only Michael Porter Jr.'s plus-19, making a significant impact in a game where the Nets needed contributions from throughout the rotation.
Traoré also came up with several important plays down the stretch, finishing with 16 points and three steals. Day'Ron Sharpe assisted on one of Traoré's fourth-quarter baskets, recording his eighth assist of the night, a new career high.
Porter Jr. finished with a team-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Randle added 22 points. Brown contributed 18 points, and Wolf's 12-point performance rounded out a strong night from Brooklyn's young talent.
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Charlotte was led by Reid, who finished with 28 points and nine rebounds, while Allen added 22. However, the Nets did an excellent job limiting the Hornets' other primary scoring options. Brandon Miller and White combined for just 14 points on 4-of-24 shooting, including 1-of-15 from three-point range.
Randle's performance was another encouraging sign for Brooklyn. He continues to provide a reliable presence on both ends of the floor, and he is one of just three NBA players this season leading their teams in points, rebounds and assists, joining Jayson Tatum and Alperen Sengun.
The victory gives Brooklyn its first home win of the season and improves its record to 2-6. Charlotte, meanwhile, has now lost five straight games after entering Wednesday's matchup on a four-game losing streak.
After struggling to find its offense against the Knicks, the Nets responded with one of their best offensive performances of the young season. More importantly, they showed what this group can look like when its veterans and young players are clicking together.
Brooklyn will look to carry that momentum into its next matchup on Saturday night when it travels to Atlanta to take on the Hawks at 7:30 p.m. ET.
