The Brooklyn Nets kicked off their preseason schedule with a commanding 124-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night. This dominant performance offers an early glimpse into Jordi Fernández's plans for the upcoming campaign, a welcome sight after a challenging end to the 2025-26 regular season where they lost their final two games, including a 125-108 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks on April 11.
Brooklyn's offense flowed smoothly from the opening tip. They shot an impressive 55% from three-point range through the first three quarters, blowing the game open. A major talking point was center Day'Ron Sharpe stepping out to the corner and knocking down a three-pointer. Head coach Jordi Fernández appears to be encouraging this expansion of Sharpe's game, a significant shift from last season. The starting lineup featured Egor Dëmin, Keon Ellis, Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, and Sharpe, with Ellis getting the nod due to strong camp play and existing trust with the coach.
Defensively, the Nets switched nearly every ball-screen early on. This tactic leverages the team's length across positions, though it did lead to a couple of offensive rebounds for Charlotte. The team also showed a clear intent to play faster, with Randle empowered to grab rebounds and initiate the break. This pace could be a defining feature of their play this season.
Julius Randle's integration was a focal point. Fernández called a clear-out post-up for him on the very first possession. Randle also worked in two-man actions with Sharpe in semi-transition, a pairing that will be watched closely. Can Randle create advantages for others out of these sets? That's a big question for the Nets' offense.
Off the bench, Ben Saraf hit a confident three-pointer after stepping behind a screen, showing promise. Chaney Johnson also saw early sixth-man minutes, suggesting a strong training camp. The team did show some vulnerability defending guard-to-guard actions like ghost screens, an area for Fernández to address.
While preseason results should be taken with caution, the performance provided several positive indicators. The offensive spacing, three-point shooting, and increased tempo are all encouraging signs for a team looking to improve. This preseason outing suggests a shift in philosophy.
The victory also came without Mikel Brown Jr. (ankle) and Joshua Jefferson (back). Getting those players healthy will be important as the team builds depth. For now, the Nets can build on this confident start as they prepare for their next preseason tests. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full schedule on our schedule page.
