- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
The Brooklyn Nets closed the preseason with a 3-1 record, yet the final ledger offered more caution than comfort as the club prepares for Wednesday's regular-season opener against the visiting Charlotte Hornets.
Defensive breakdowns overshadowed Brooklyn's offensive progress. Opponents shot .498 from the field against the Nets, and the club's effective field goal percentage allowed was .588, both second-worst in the league. The low point came in the preseason finale at Miami, where they surrendered 144 points on 58.5% shooting.
Coach Jordi Fernández noted that 10 of 16 quarters were solid defensively, but six were "really bad." Mikel Brown Jr. attributed the issues to attention to detail rather than effort or personnel. The Nets showed they could adjust, forcing 15 turnovers after halftime against Washington on Monday after allowing 70 points in the first half. They also ranked among the league's 10 best clubs in forcing giveaways, opponent turnover rate and scoring off those mistakes.
Rim protection weakened following the trade of Nic Claxton, and Day'Ron Sharpe's foul trouble in Miami exacerbated the problem. "If we want to be good, then defensively we'll have to lock in," Michael Porter Jr. said.
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).