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Nets vs. Hornets: Brooklyn Opens 2026-27 Preseason
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- Nets vs. Hornets: Brooklyn Opens 2026-27 Preseason
(Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
The Brooklyn Nets will officially begin their 2026-27 preseason schedule Tuesday night, giving fans their first opportunity to see this year's team in action.
Brooklyn will travel to Charlotte to take on the Charlotte Hornets at 7:00 p.m. ET, with both teams opening their preseason schedules. While the result will not mean much in the standings, the matchup will provide an early look at how each roster is beginning to come together ahead of the regular season.
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The game can be watched on NBA TV and streamed on DAZN.
For the Nets, Tuesday's game will be the first chance to see many of their returning players alongside the team's newest additions.
Brooklyn is expected to open with Egor Dёmin, Keon Ellis, Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, and Day'Ron Sharpe in the starting lineup.
Mikel Brown Jr. will not be available for the preseason opener as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has been one of Brooklyn's biggest additions this offseason, but the Nets are expected to take a cautious approach with him as he works his way back.
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With Brown sidelined, Ellis is expected to step into the starting lineup. The guard has a close relationship with head coach Jordi Fernández, with the two having built a strong level of trust dating back to their time together in Sacramento.
That allows Ellis to open the preseason with the starters while getting an early look at how he fits alongside Brooklyn's other key pieces.
Joshua Jefferson will also miss Tuesday's game after being ruled out with lower back stiffness. Everyone else on Brooklyn's roster is available for the preseason opener.
Dёmin will also receive an extended opportunity in the backcourt, while Porter and Randle give Brooklyn two experienced offensive options alongside its younger players. Sharpe is expected to anchor the frontcourt, with Nic Claxton still working his way back from his offseason absence.
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The game should also provide the first extended look at how Randle fits into Jordi Fernandez's system. The veteran forward was acquired by Brooklyn this offseason and immediately became one of the team's most experienced players. His ability to score, facilitate, and create opportunities for teammates will be an important part of the Nets' offense this season.
Charlotte is dealing with several injuries of its own entering Tuesday's game.
Second-year forward Kon Knueppel is expected to miss the preseason as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Grant Williams is also expected to miss the preseason while dealing with a hamstring injury.
The Hornets will also be without Coby White, who suffered a left calf strain during training camp and will miss Charlotte's preseason games.
Charlotte received two more injury updates on Tuesday. Brandon Miller suffered a shin contusion during practice and will miss the preseason opener, while Christian Anderson suffered a left ankle sprain in practice and will also be sidelined. Both players are considered day-to-day moving forward.
With Knueppel, White, and Miller unavailable, Dennis Schroder is expected to start at point guard, while Grayson Allen is expected to take Knueppel's spot in the starting lineup. Liam McNeeley is also likely to step into the starting lineup in place of Miller.
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Based on the team's current injury situation, the Hornets' most likely starting five for Tuesday appears to be Dennis Schroder, Grayson Allen, Liam McNeeley, Naz Reid, and Moussa Diabate.
That group would give Charlotte a mix of veteran experience and young talent, with Schroder and Allen providing ball-handling and shooting, while McNeeley gets an opportunity to step into a larger role alongside Reid and Diabate in the frontcourt.
Tuesday's matchup should ultimately be less about the final score and more about getting an early look at both teams.
For Brooklyn, it will be the first opportunity to see Randle alongside the team's young core in a game setting. It will also give players such as Ellis, Dёmin, and Sharpe a chance to establish themselves before the regular season begins.
With both teams opening the preseason and several key players unavailable, neither side will have its full roster on the court.
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Still, after months of offseason moves, draft selections, and preparation, Tuesday night will finally give Nets fans their first chance to see the 2026-27 team in a game setting.
And while there will be plenty of time for this roster to develop, the first preseason game offers an early glimpse at what Brooklyn could look like when the games start counting.
