Hornets Fall to Nets in Sloppy Road Loss, Extend Skid to Eight
Final: Hornets 103 - Nets 116
The Charlotte Hornets continue to search for answers-and some semblance of rhythm-as they dropped their eighth straight road game, this time falling to the Brooklyn Nets in a matchup that felt like a missed opportunity from the opening tip. Despite facing a Nets team with a nearly identical record and plenty of its own growing pains, the Hornets couldn’t capitalize, undone by sloppy execution, poor shot selection, and a fourth quarter collapse that sealed their fate.
Let’s break it down.
Turnovers Tell the Story
This one came down to ball security-or the lack of it. The Hornets coughed up the ball 18 times, leading directly to 27 points for the Nets. That’s essentially gifting your opponent a full quarter’s worth of scoring, and in a game that featured multiple lead changes and little separation early on, those giveaways were the difference.
Charlotte actually built an 11-point lead at one point in the first half, but it never felt like they were in control. Every run was met with a self-inflicted wound.
The offense stalled out under Brooklyn’s pressure, particularly in the back half of the third quarter and into the fourth, when the Hornets simply unraveled. The ball stopped moving, the decision-making got shaky, and the turnovers piled up.
Miles Bridges: From Hero to Hard Night
After putting the team on his back in an overtime win against Toronto, Miles Bridges followed it up with arguably his worst outing of the season. He finished with just 8 points on 26% shooting, added only 2 rebounds and 1 assist, and turned the ball over twice. His shot selection was questionable throughout, and he looked visibly frustrated-especially during a heated exchange with Michael Porter Jr.
Unfortunately for Charlotte, Porter Jr. thrived in that moment. He torched the Hornets for 35 points, including 7-of-11 from three, and looked like the only player on the floor consistently capable of hitting NBA-level shots. Bridges, meanwhile, couldn’t find a rhythm and struggled defensively, especially when matched up with MPJ.
LaMelo Ball: A Mixed Bag
LaMelo Ball led the Hornets in gamescore with a stat line of 12 points, 5 rebounds, 14 assists, and 2 blocks in under 30 minutes. He drew early fouls, hit a couple of threes, and did a good job limiting mistakes.
But here’s the catch-he only took nine shots and faded from the action in the second half when the Hornets desperately needed a steadying force. With Brandon Miller and Tre Mann both sidelined and Bridges struggling, this was a night where Charlotte needed LaMelo to assert himself.
Whether it’s due to his minutes restriction or lingering effects from injury, he wasn’t able to do that. And while it’s not necessarily a knock on him, it does raise questions about what version of LaMelo the Hornets can count on right now-and what head coach Charles Lee expects from his star guard.
Young Guns and Growing Pains
With Miller and Mann out for injury management, the Hornets turned to some fresh faces. Tidjane Salaun was called back up from the G League’s Greensboro Swarm, and Antonio Reeves saw extended run.
Reeves actually gave the Hornets a spark early with his shooting, helping them build one of their only real leads of the night. Salaun, however, showed many of the same issues that led to his G League stint-rushed decisions, defensive lapses, and a general lack of composure.
Kon Knueppel led Charlotte in scoring with 18 points, but it was a volume-heavy performance-18 shots to get there. He had his three-point stroke working and delivered a few highlight plays, including a slick lob to Ryan Kalkbrenner in the first half.
But he struggled to finish around the rim, missing several runners that could’ve helped keep Charlotte in striking distance. He’s clearly got talent, and flashes of future shot creation potential were there.
But tonight wasn’t the night he could take over.
The Bigger Picture
There are a few ways to look at this game, and none of them are particularly encouraging.
You could say this is a young Hornets team doing what young teams do-making mistakes, learning on the fly, and struggling to close games on the road. That’s fair.
But you could also argue that this team has lost its identity. With so many key players on minutes restrictions or sitting for “injury management,” it’s hard to establish continuity or build chemistry.
And when the veterans like Bridges have off nights, there’s just not enough firepower or structure to compensate.
Whether this is part of a long-term development plan or something closer to a soft tank, the result is the same: another winnable game that slipped away.
Other Notes
- Starting Five: LaMelo Ball, Sion James, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, Ryan Kalkbrenner
- Grant Williams was seen practicing with the team, though no update has been provided on his recovery timeline.
Still, it’s a positive sign for a team that could use his toughness and versatility.
- Tidjane Salaun returned after nearly a month with the Swarm.
His raw potential is clear, but he’s still working through the learning curve at the NBA level.
- The Hornets handed the Nets their first home win of the season, a stat that stings a little more given the context.
Up Next
The Hornets are in the middle of a grueling stretch-this was their third game in four nights-and the wear is starting to show. With key players out and the rotation in flux, they’ll need to find a way to steady the ship before this slide becomes the story of their season.
For now, the "Get Right Hornets" continue to be the team opponents circle on the schedule.