Hornets vs. Nets Prediction, NBA Odds & Best Bets (10/21)

Fact checked at 7:48 AM ET, Oct 21, 2026

Odds as of Oct 21, 7:48 AM ET

Charlotte went 44-38 last season and made the play-in. Then it traded LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges and rebuilt around Brandon Miller, adding Naz Reid, Dennis Schroder, Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale. Brooklyn went 20-62, traded for Julius Randle to play next to Michael Porter Jr. and drafted Mikel Brown Jr. Both teams open their seasons Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET at Barclays Center.

The Hornets show up short in the backcourt. Kon Knueppel (hamstring), who averaged 18.5 points as a rookie, is out, and so are Coby White (calf), Grant Williams (hamstring) and Kylan Boswell (knee). Brooklyn lists only Tyler Bilodeau (shoulder). Charlotte opened as the favorite. Brooklyn is -1.5 (-112) and -125 on the moneyline, with the total at 219.5.

Nothing in the preseason argued with that move. Charlotte went 1-3, scored 90, 105, 93 and 98, and turned it over 25, 14, 30 and 24 times. Brooklyn went 3-1 and put up 124, 114, 131 and 128. Randle handed out 19 assists in four exhibitions, and the Nets beat Charlotte 124-90 in the preseason opener, though Miller sat that one out.

Our read: Porter gets his points and Brooklyn's offense outlasts a Charlotte team missing two starting guards. Both picks need the Nets to score.

Hornets vs. Nets Predictions

• Pick #1: Michael Porter Jr. Over 22.5 Points (-108)
• Pick #2: Nets -1.5 (-112)

PICK #1: Michael Porter Jr. Over 22.5 Points (-108)

Porter was Brooklyn's first option last season and averaged 24.2 points in 52 games, clearing 22.5 in 33 of them. He was better at home: 25.2 a game, over this number in 18 of 25. The last time he faced Charlotte, on Dec. 1 in Brooklyn, he dropped 35 on 13-of-24 shooting with seven 3-pointers.

Randle's arrival hasn't cut into his scoring so far. Porter had 16 in 17 minutes against Charlotte, 22 in 24 minutes at Washington and 27 in 27 minutes at Miami: 65 points on 23-of-39 shooting across three exhibitions. He missed the Oct. 8 game with left wrist soreness and isn't on the injury report. With Randle running more of the offense, Porter should get easier looks than he did last season.

The price implies 51.9%, and we like him to clear it. He does carry some risk. A left hamstring strain ended his season in March, Randle will take some shots that used to be Porter's, and a blowout either way could shorten his fourth quarter.

PICK #2: Nets -1.5 (-112)

Start with who Charlotte can put in the backcourt. Knueppel and White are out and Ball is gone, so Schroder and Sion James project to start next to Miller, Reid and Moussa Diabate. Allen is available after a sore right knee cost him three preseason games. The bigger worry is the ball: the Hornets gave it away 93 times in four exhibitions, and coach Charles Lee named turnovers and four-quarter consistency as the things he needed fixed before the opener.

Brooklyn's starters are healthy and have played together. Egor Demin, Keon Ellis, Porter, Randle and Day'Ron Sharpe started three of the four exhibitions, and the Nets scored at least 114 every time out. At -112, Brooklyn needs to win by two or more about 52.8% of the time to make this a break-even bet.

There's a real argument for Charlotte. The Hornets were 24 games better last season, and projections built on last season's ratings still lean their way. Brooklyn had a bottom-five defense last season, Brown is on a minutes limit, and preseason games only tell you so much. The line has also already flipped from Charlotte to Brooklyn. We'd still rather back a settled, healthy Brooklyn top five than a Charlotte rotation missing two starters.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.