Inside The Nets

GAME PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: Brooklyn Nets vs Charlotte Hornets

The Brooklyn Nets look to win their first game of the season against the Hornets.

Peter Sunjic

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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The 2023/24 season has seen the Brooklyn Nets kick off with two narrow losses, and now they're set to face the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center, with both teams seeking redemption after recent defeats, with the Nets falling victim to a 49-point outburst by Luka Doncic.

Starting center Nic Claxton has been ruled out yet again due to an ankle sprain. Cameron Johnson who was a late scratch against the Mavs will also not play in this road game against the Hornets as he’s nursing a calf injury.

“A little bit of me thinking ahead, we got two days in between games, enough for our guys to recover, was my thought about it that I could run them a bit longer,” head coach Jacque Vaughn said in the presser after the Mavs game.

Cam Thomas continues to emerge as the Nets’ top scorer

Mikal Bridges has struggled in the first two games averaging only 19 points on 41% shooting which is not the efficiency that Nets fans got used to in the second half of the 2022/23 season. This shift has propelled Cameron Thomas into the position of the team's leading scorer, averaging an impressive 33 points per game on a 62.5% shooting from the floor.

With Bridges expected to regain his form, pairing him with a prolific scorer would present the best-case scenario for the Nets. The team has been in search of an additional offensive threat, and now, Thomas has unleashed his innate scoring prowess from all areas of the court.

Charlotte won’t be an easy matchup but they have a lack of defensive stoppers that both Thomas and Bridges will likely exploit. On the other hand, the Nets have solid defenders for the Hornets’ young core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams.

Injury report

For the Nets, as mentioned, Claxton and Johnson remain sidelined, which could lead Day’Ron Sharpe starts as center. Coach Vaughn did make an adjustment against the Mavs where he played a super-small-ball lineup that had Dorian Finney-Smith at center. 

Rookie Dariq Whitehead remains sidelined with his foot injury recovery.

James Bouknight and Cody Martin are sidelined with knee injuries, while Frank Ntilikina is dealing with a leg injury, leaving them unavailable for the Hornets.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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