Michael Porter Jr. went off for 26 points and 10 boards, with Julius Randle adding 22 points, as the Brooklyn Nets finally clawed their way to their second win of the season, a 114-104 triumph over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. This victory snapped a brutal stretch for the Nets, who had dropped six of their first seven games to start the season.
Nets Dig Deep for Second Win
The Nets needed this one bad, and they fought for it, rallying from a seven-point halftime deficit to close out the Hornets. Their offense was clicking, shooting 51% from the field overall and a solid 38% from long distance. Beyond Porter Jr. and Randle, Brooklyn got major contributions from Mikel Brown Jr. with 18 points, Nolan Traore dropping 16, and Danny Wolf adding 13. It’s only their second win, with the other coming Sunday against Indiana, but it’s a start for a team desperate to turn things around from their 2-6 record.
Hornets’ Losing Streak Continues Amidst Injury Heartbreak
For the Charlotte Hornets, the slide just keeps getting worse. This was their fifth straight loss, a complete reversal from their 3-1 start to the season, pushing their record to 3-6. Naz Reid tried to keep them in it, scoring 28 points on an efficient 11-for-18 shooting, and Grayson Allen added 22 points. Brandon Miller and Sion James chipped in 10 points each, but it wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding.
The real gut punch for Charlotte, though, came early. Kon Knueppel, who was making his season debut after being sidelined with a hamstring strain, barely got started before exiting in the first quarter due to soreness in his left leg. He played only six minutes, scoring three points from the free-throw line on 3-for-3 shooting. This is a huge blow, especially considering Knueppel led the NBA in 3-pointers last season and was the runner-up for NBA rookie of the year. You hate to see a comeback cut short like that.
The Hornets will try to snap their losing streak when they host the Boston Celtics on Friday. Meanwhile, the Nets are heading out on the road, starting a four-game trip in Atlanta on Saturday. Can Brooklyn build on this much-needed win, or will Charlotte finally find a way to get back on track without their star?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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