The Brooklyn Nets visit the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center for opening week of the 2025–26 NBA regular season. It’s a clean slate for both teams after difficult 2024–25 campaigns, with the Nets emphasizing defensive cohesion under new head coach Jordi Fernández and the Hornets leaning on LaMelo Ball’s health and playmaking to spark a step forward. As an early-season Eastern Conference matchup, this game serves as a benchmark for rotations, chemistry, and how each team’s offseason adjustments translate on the floor.
How to watch: Date, time, venue, TV
- Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
- Tip-off time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming options: NBA League Pass, ESPN+, FuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, DAZN
Brooklyn’s outlook centers on two-way wing play and defensive structure, with Mikal Bridges sequencing their offense while Nic Claxton’s rim protection underpins switch-heavy coverage. Charlotte’s approach leans on LaMelo Ball’s pace control and shot creation, aiming to open driving lanes and lift three-point volume with Brandon Miller’s spacing. After last season’s struggles, the Hornets’ priority is tightening defensive execution while maintaining tempo, whereas the Nets must cut down live-ball turnovers and firm up the glass to stabilize half-court efficiency.
Expect Charlotte to test Brooklyn’s paint deterrence early; Claxton’s mobility is key against Ball-led pick-and-rolls and downhill attacks. Conversely, the Hornets will vary matchups on Bridges, mixing length and physicality to disrupt Brooklyn’s primary actions in late-clock situations. Fourth-quarter rotation clarity will matter in an opener, where conditioning and new roles can magnify mistakes; both staffs will focus on set-piece defense out of timeouts and transition organization to control runs.
With home-court energy and Ball steering the tempo, Charlotte holds a slight opening-night edge if they protect the ball and sustain defensive effort across 48 minutes. Brooklyn can flip that script by winning the possession battle—limiting turnovers, securing defensive rebounds—and leveraging Bridges’ shot-making to avoid scoring droughts. Given the early calendar and evolving rotations, expect a competitive, execution-driven game decided in the final minutes