The Brooklyn Nets opened the 2026 preseason on a high note Tuesday, cruising to a 124-90 win over the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Eighteen Nets players saw time during the victory. Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle led the way, combining for 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting.
The Nets shot 20-of-37 from three (54.1 percent) with 31 assists and 12 turnovers. They held the Hornets — who were without Kon Kneuppel, Brandon Miller and Coby White, amongst others — to 28-of-70 shooting (40.0 percent) while forcing 25 turnovers.
“It was a good feeling. Obviously, first game of the preseason, and we accomplished playing pretty much everybody in camp who was available,” Fernandez said following the win. “Everybody won their minutes, and that's important. To play hard for 48 minutes. I think that we struggled with turnovers in the first half. Three turnovers in the second. That's pretty good. [We had] 31 assists and 44 made field goals. That's great. And then defensively, the ball pressure. We turned them over 25 times for 31 points. So, the only thing we struggled with was the three-point line, and we have to be better at getting out there and finding shooters.”
“When you win every quarter, it's a good sign. We had different groups out there, and they did whatever it took to get wins every quarter, and that mindset is important. I know it was a closer first half. But I'm very happy with the intentions, very happy with the effort, and the good things that you see quarter by quarter.”
The Nets' new lead duo of Porter and Randle flashed growing chemistry in their first game together.
Nets open preseason with dominant win over shorthanded Hornets
Porter led an impressive Brooklyn shooting display, scoring 16 points while converting 4-of-6 three-point attempts in 18 minutes. Randle consistently created scoring opportunities for himself and others, posting 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting with three assists and one turnover in 17 minutes.
“[Mike and Julius] are getting a feel for each other,” Fernandez said. “It's important that they understand that they have to find [Mike] on the three-point line and that Julius can score in different ways, get into the paint and then kick it out. And it was cool because I think Julius found Mike once, but then Mike found Julius once also for a three. So, it's good. They're trying to get those actions together, and it's been a good first step right here. We want to keep working on ramping those minutes up and having a better feel with the different groups that we'll have out there. But those two did an amazing job.”
Randle ➡️ MPJ 3
MPJ ➡️ Randle 3 pic.twitter.com/E0LiHjwTLS
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Julius Randle scores seven straight for the Nets. pic.twitter.com/h1F7bTRK0v
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Article Continues BelowThe showtime Nets? pic.twitter.com/uGjJrbaOG1
— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) October 6, 2026
Porter posted a career-best season in 2025-26 while stepping in as the Nets' lead offensive option. However, Brooklyn lacked a proven on-ball creator to complement his outside shooting and cutting.
General Manager Sean Marks brought in Randle to fill that void. The three-time All-Star has been one of the NBA's top offensive engines over the last six seasons, averaging 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists on .459/.341/.785 shooting splits during that span.
“I think it'll be a great fit just because of our play styles. I feel like we mesh with each other very well,” Randle said of his fit alongside Porter. “Obviously we both can score the ball, but I can create in multiple ways with how I attack the basket, how I can get into the paint. And having a guy like [Mike] that's so elite at cutting and catching and shooting [and taking advantage of] all those opportunities is [big]. Players I played with who have that style in the past have been great for me. Even just recently, playing with Donte [DiVincenzo], who was one of the best catch-and-shoot guys in the league and one of the best cutters, it was easy to play off each other. So I feel like it'll be great being able to do that with Mike as well.”
Egor Demin added six points on 2-of-5 shooting with five assists and two turnovers in 18 minutes during Monday's win. Day'Ron Sharpe chipped in eight points, seven rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes.
Nolan Traore led Brooklyn's bench with 10 points and two assists on 3-of-4 shooting in 10 minutes.