It took a while for the Charlotte Hornets to settle in, but once they did, Brooklyn didn’t have much of an answer.
The shorthanded Hornets opened the 2026-27 season with a 110-103 win over the Nets, their sixth straight victory in a season-opener. Charlotte started slowly, then let its defense grab the game and steer it home.
Brandon Miller had his ups and downs, but one dunk stood out as the night’s signature play. It wasn’t the biggest moment in his highlight reel by a long shot, but it sparked the kind of stretch Charlotte needs more often from its newly minted $209M man. For about 10 minutes, he looked like the go-to scorer the Hornets believe he can be.
This was also the kind of game that showed exactly how Jeff Peterson and Charles Lee want this roster to play. Charlotte kept firing from deep and kept chasing extra possessions on the offensive glass, two habits that have already become central to the team’s identity. Earlier this summer, the prediction was that the Hornets would set the all-time record for three-point attempt frequency, and after one game, that idea already looks pretty believable.
Kon Knueppel and Coby White were both out, and Charlotte needed someone to help carry the offense. Reid stepped right into that space and delivered a debut worth remembering: 20 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and only one turnover.
He gave the Hornets scoring, floor spacing, rim pressure, and the kind of passing the staff has been talking up all summer. The ability to get into the paint, read the floor, and make the simple or the flashy play is exactly what the Hornets want from him.
Grayson Allen gave Charlotte a major lift off the bench, too. His shooting kept the offense alive when things started to bog down, and his five made threes came in all kinds of ways - transition pull-ups, spot-up looks, and a huge late dagger with under a minute left. He also showed up on the floor for loose balls, which matters for a Hornets team that loves to talk about culture.
Dennis Schroder fit the night perfectly. He opened the game as a facilitator, got teammates involved, and then shifted into scorer mode in the fourth quarter.
That ability to sense what the offense needs and supply it is why Jeff Peterson wanted him to lead the second unit. His NBA path has bounced all over the place - Charlotte is his 12th team - but if he keeps playing like this, he should have a real runway in the Queen City.
Ryan Kalkbrenner wasted no time making his presence felt. He opened his 2026-27 account with a monster dunk on Day'Ron Sharpe, then got into two skirmishes, one physical and one verbal, with Noah Clowney and Moritz Wagner.
That edge mattered. Even though he was already a productive defender as a rookie, he could get moved around by bigger frontcourt players.
Against Brooklyn, he brought force on both ends and gave Charlotte an early boost.
Sion James spent most of the night glued to Porter Jr., and his off-ball defense was excellent, but Porter Jr. still found ways to get shots off. Even with two defenders in a phone booth, he could still put the ball in the net.
Moussa Diabate also left his mark, and he had Eric Collins sounding off all night. His six slam dunks were a major part of the second half, especially when Charlotte’s offense went cold late in the third quarter. When the Hornets couldn’t buy a basket, Diabate’s work on the glass kept them afloat, and he looked like an early favorite to repeat as the Kia Hustle Player of the Year.
One surprise came with Tidjane Salaun, who didn’t play. The Hornets opted to use Royce O'Neale as the de facto backup power forward instead. Hannes Steinbach also stayed on the bench, though that was less surprising; the expectation is that he’ll spend a good chunk of the season in Greensboro with the Swarm unless Charlotte’s frontcourt gets hit by another injury.
In Other News...
Hornets Already Face A Brandon Miller Concern They Feared
Brandon Millers first game of the season did little to quiet the questions that followed him into the year. With LaMelo Ball no longer around to steer the offense, the Hornets are already staring at the concern they feared most: whether Miller can generate enough good looks on his own, or whether his production will dip when he has to carry more of the creation burden.
There is still room for the picture to change as Charlotte gets more help around him, with Coby White and Kon Knueppel among the players who could ease some of that pressure. But the opener served as an early reminder that Millers comfort level can look very different depending on who is setting the table, and the Hornets may spend the coming weeks finding out how much of his game travels without Ball beside him. [Read more 🡒]
Grant Williams Is Already Feeling The Buzz Around Charlotte's Opener
Grant Williams has been soaking up the buildup to the Hornets' home opener in a way that fits both his roots and his role as one of the more visible Charlotte natives on the roster. Even though he won't be on the floor for the opener, the buzz around the building has already reached him, and he sounds eager to be part of a night that blends basketball, local pride and a little extra pageantry for a fan base waiting to see what this group looks like at home.
The opener will also bring a familiar soundtrack to the evening, with Petey Pablo set to perform North Carolina's unofficial anthem at halftime. For Williams, the occasion carries a personal layer beyond the game itself, with his connection to playing in his hometown and his reflections on fatherhood giving the night a meaning that goes beyond one regular-season date on the calendar. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Already Face One Early Problem They Cant Keep Ignoring
The Hornets home opener turned into an early reminder of how thin the margin can be when a young roster is still trying to sort itself out. Charlotte fell behind quickly against Atlanta at Spectrum Center and never found much traction offensively, with turnovers and empty possessions piling up as the game slipped away. Head coach Charles Lee pointed to the ongoing adjustment to the teams offensive systems, a process that can take time but also has to show progress sooner rather than later.
Brandon Millers rough shooting night only added to the frustration, especially after the organization committed to him on a multi-year contract. There was at least one small developmental note to take from the loss, though, as Charlottes 2026 first-round draft pick made his NBA debut and contributed on both ends. For a team trying to balance patience with urgency, nights like this tend to sharpen the focus on what still needs fixing. [Read more 🡒]