The Charlotte Hornets begin the 2026-27 season tonight in Brooklyn, and they do it as slim road favorites against the Nets.
The matchup is set for Charlotte Hornets (0-0) at Brooklyn Nets (0-0), with the betting market leaning toward the Hornets despite a short-handed lineup. Even without Coby White, Kon Knueppel, and Grant Williams, Charlotte is still in that position, which says plenty about where Brooklyn sits right now.
Those absences matter. If this game were later in the year, there’s a real chance the Hornets would roll those players out there, but for opening night, the team is not taking that kind of risk. That leaves Dennis Schroder and rookie Christian Anderson likely to see a bump in minutes, along with Grayson Allen.
That also helps explain why this game is expected to play out with a defensive edge. Charlotte is probably going to have to win it that way, at least in part, because White and Knueppel are a significant chunk of offense to replace. The total reflects that reality, and so does the fact that it’s the first game of the season, when a little rust is part of the deal even after preseason work.
For listeners, the game can be heard on 1590 AM WCSL in Cherryville, 1390 AM WOHS in Shelby, 1450 AM WGNC in Gastonia, 1470 AM WWBG in Greensboro, 107.5 FM/1570 AM WECU in Greenville, and 107.5 FM/1490 AM WWNB in New Bern.
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In Other News...
Hornets Are Positioning For The Move Fans Have Been Waiting On
Jeff Petersons latest update offered a pretty clear read on where the Hornets see themselves right now: still building, but with the kind of optionality that can change quickly. Charlotte has spent the summer stacking financial flexibility and draft capital while reshaping the roster through a flurry of moves, including trades involving LaMelo Ball, Josh Green and Miles Bridges, plus the additions of Naz Reid, Dennis Schrder and a new deal for Coby White. The bigger picture is that the front office is not just collecting pieces for the sake of it, but creating room to chase a specific type of upgrade when the time is right.
For Hornets fans, that is the part worth watching as the team works toward the 2026-27 opener. The organization has leaned into future assets, with several incoming picks and swaps now part of its path forward, and Petersons comments made it clear those tools are meant to be used, not just stored away. The question is less whether Charlotte has the means to make a meaningful addition than when it will decide the market presents the right opening to do it. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets New Core Is Earning Attention Ahead Of A Pivotal Season
The Hornets spent the offseason turning over the top of their roster, moving on from LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and Tre Mann while bringing in Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and Dennis Schroder. It is the kind of reshaping that usually comes with a waiting period, but Charlotte appears ready to skip ahead, with Coby White, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Reid and Moussa Diabate projected to make up the starting group when the season opens.
What makes the new-look lineup interesting is how quickly the conversation around the franchise has shifted toward Miller and Knueppel as the next faces of the team. Thats already drawing notice outside the organization, too, with Blake Griffin telling Bill Simmons that he likes what the Hornets are building. For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for direction, the attention is a sign that this version of Charlotte may have at least changed the way people view its future. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Opener Already Comes With A Rotation Concern Fans Will Notice
The first injury report of the season already gives the Hornets something to monitor as they head toward Wednesdays opener against Brooklyn. Charlotte and Orlando both released availability updates ahead of their season openers, and the Hornets side comes with the usual early-season caution, the kind that can force a coach to shuffle plans before the first game even tips.
Kon Knueppel, Grant Williams and Coby White have all gotten back to individual on-court work, which is encouraging in a broader sense, but none of them will be available for this one. Their absences leave Charlotte with an immediate rotation question to solve, and the team will have to manage those injuries carefully while trying to set a tone right away in the new season. [Read more 🡒]