Hornets Beat Nets 110-103 in Season Opener

by Earl·October 22, 2026

The Charlotte Hornets opened the 2026-27 season with a 110-103 road win over the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Wednesday night. The defining storyline was Charlotte's ability to impose its established core on a Brooklyn team still finding its footing in a post-tank rebuild. Brandon Miller, fresh off a five-year, $209M extension, made an early case for Dunk of the Year, and the Hornets left with a win that validated the market's narrow road favoritism.

Premium pick grade: Hornets -1.5 — WIN. Charlotte won by seven, covering the short number comfortably. The read was that a 24-win gap in last season's records being priced as a single possession was a signal, not a coincidence, and the result supported that logic.

Prop plays:

Brandon Miller under 24.5 points (-107) — WIN. Miller's recent form pointed under, and the under cashed.
Michael Porter Jr. over 22.5 points (-103) — LOSS. Porter fell short of the number, and the home-scoring split that made the over attractive did not deliver.
Egor Demin under 12.5 points (-116) — WIN. Demin stayed below the line, consistent with his recent baseline.
Naz Reid under 17.5 points (-109) — WIN. Reid finished under the number, matching the recent trend.

Takeaway: The opener reinforced that early-season lines can lag roster reality, but the Porter miss is a reminder that home splits and reputation pricing cut both ways. Trust recent form over season-long averages, and treat small-sample home/road splits with caution until the new season establishes its own baseline.