Brooklyn Nets Fall in Season Opener Without Israeli Players
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
The Brooklyn Nets lost their season opener 110-103 to the Charlotte Hornets, with Israeli players Ben Sharf and Dani Wolf not playing. Julius Randle led the Nets with 33 points in his debut, but Charlotte's balanced scoring, including 21 points from Grayson Allen, secured the win. The Hornets pulled away in the fourth quarter after a late run. Sharf and Wolf's next chance to play will be against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Brooklyn Nets lost their season opener 110-103 to the Charlotte Hornets.
- Israeli players Ben Sharf and Dani Wolf did not play in the Nets' first game.
- Julius Randle debuted for the Nets with 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
- Grayson Allen scored 21 points off the bench to lead the Hornets.
- Charlotte secured the win with a strong fourth-quarter performance.
The Brooklyn Nets began their 2026-27 NBA season with a disappointing 110-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. Notably absent from the Nets' lineup were Israeli players Ben Sharf and Dani Wolf, who were not utilized in the game. The Hornets, playing without key players like K.C. Johnson and Kobe White, secured the victory with a balanced team effort.
Julius Randle made his debut for the Nets, leading the team with 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome Charlotte's offense. Michael Porter Jr. added 26 points and 7 rebounds for Brooklyn, but no other local player reached double-digit scoring. The Nets wore special uniforms commemorating the team's 60th anniversary.
Charlotte's offense was led by Grayson Allen, who scored 21 points off the bench. Naz Reid contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists in his debut, while Dennis Schröder added 19 points and Brandon Miller chipped in 18. Moussa Diabaté also had a strong performance with 17 points and 8 rebounds.
The game remained close, with Brooklyn trailing by six points at halftime, 54-48. However, Charlotte pulled away in the fourth quarter, with Schröder scoring six unanswered points to extend their lead to 100-90. Crucial turnovers by the Nets in the final period sealed their fate, with a fast-break dunk by Diabaté following a steal sealing the win for the Hornets.
Other Nets players also struggled. Rookie Michael Brown Jr. was limited to 20 minutes and scored 6 points. Nolan Traore, who replaced Sharf at guard, had a poor performance with 3 points on 0-of-4 shooting. Yegor Demin also struggled, scoring 4 points on 20% shooting, and Chiney Johnson, starting at forward in place of Wolf, committed three turnovers in five minutes without scoring.
Sharf and Wolf will have their next opportunity to play when the Nets face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night at 2:30 AM Israel time.
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