GAMENOTES: Regular Season Game #21 Charlotte Hornets (6-14) vs. Brooklyn Nets (3-16) - December 1st, 2025

The Hornets do a literal "2 steps forward, 1 step back."

Editor’s Note: The following is a notebook full of random thoughts and game observations. Please excuse any typos, errors or extraneous references to the Bobcats and report them in the comments. Thank you.

FINAL

Charlotte Hornets 103 (6-15) - Brooklyn Nets 116 (4-16)

THE BOXSCORE

WHY DID THEY LOSE? (AND OTHER IMPORTANT STORIES)

• The Hornets looked very young tonight against an equally young Nets team. Lots of lead changes in the first half. The Hornets built an 11 point lead at one point but nothing felt sustainable because they committed 18 turnovers for 27 Brooklyn points. Their offense never seemed to find a rhythm or a way to play through the Nets’ pressure, particularly in the late 3rd/early 4th. Shot selection by Miles Bridges and over-dribbling by Collin Sexton were headache inducing.

  • They lost their composure, lost the ball and lost confidence in the 4th quarter.

  • The Hornets will probably and should lose every game where they give up a quarter’s worth of points on turnovers.

• With Brandon Miller and Tre Mann sidelined for injury management reasons and LaMelo Ball still on a minutes restriction, the Hornets called up Tidjane Salaun from Greensboro to play and also inserted Antonio Reeves into the lineup. Reeves’ shooting was actually a factor in one of the only significant leads the Hornets had in the game. Salaun made a lot of the same mistakes that got him sent to the Swarm in the first place.

• Miles Bridges had very few answers for Michael Porter Jr. (35-7-4, 7/11 from 3). MPJ was the only player for either team that seemed ready to hit NBA level shots with any regularity. Bridges and MPJ got into some heated back and forth but it only seemed to benefit Porter Jr. who proceeded to embarrass Bridges and the Hornets.

  • Offensively, it was a nightmare for Miles Bridges (8-2-1 26% 2 turnovers) who followed up a heroic performance against Toronto in overtime with the worst Gamescore of any Hornets player who played in this game. Reminder: Tidjane Salaun, Antonio Reeves and Liam McNeeley all played in this game!

  • This matchup made me sad for a lot of reasons. No winners.

• LaMelo Ball was your gamescore leader with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 14 assists and 2 blocks in under 30 minutes of play. He drew fouls early in the game, hit multiple triples and limited mistakes. But…he only took 9 shots and was largely a non-factor in the 2nd half. This was a game that desperately needed the best version of LaMelo. Is he capable of that? Are they expecting that? Is Charles Lee happy with that game? I’m not even necessarily critiquing LaMelo. I’m just not even sure how to grade him anymore.

• Kon Knueppel led all Hornets scorers with 18 but it took him 18 shots. He had his 3 going but missed too many runners. Not a bad game from Kon. He had some highlight level stuff in the first half including a nice oop to Kalkbrenner. One day he’ll be able to take over these types of games and force his will upon a weaker opponent. That day was not today.

• If you think they are sneak tanking this is probably going in your Exhibit A file.

  • If you think, “this is a young Hornets team doing young team things.” you won’t get any argument from me.

  • If you think, “this is a broken Hornets team that has lost its identity and is letting “return to play” plans ruin their entire season” you won’t get any argument from me.

• Hornets lose their 8th straight on the road and hand the Nets their 1st home win of the season. The Get Right Hornets strike again.

NEWS AND NOTES

• Brandon Miller (shoulder) and Tre Mann (L ankle impingement) were declared out pregame for injury management purposes. The Hornets are playing their 3rd game in 4 nights and this is the new way of things.

• Starters: LaMelo Ball, Sion James, Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, Ryan Kalkbrenner

• The Hornets released a photo of Grant Williams at practice with the Hornets. No update has been given on his status or where he is in his rehab but a positive sign nonetheless.

• Tidjane Salaun was recalled from the Greensboro swarm after nearly a month with the squad.

  • Lee on what he wants to see

THINGS I THINK I SAW