Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte Hornets on Friday, April 9 looks like a mismatch on paper. Our ratings give the Hornets about a 90% chance, and the Nets would need an unusual night to change that.
Why the gap is wide
The Win Meter reads the Hornets 90%, with a projected score of Brooklyn Nets 108, Charlotte Hornets 121. The rating gap is 274 points in favor of the Hornets, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Hornets on top of that.
A reading this high has real meaning, but upsets of this size happen. Nearly one game in 10 like it goes the other way.
Recent form
The Nets are 0-3 this season and 0-5 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -18. The Hornets are 3-1 this season and 3-2 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -11.8.
The Nets were beaten 136-101 on the road by TOR not long ago.
The Hornets were beaten 128-81 at home by ATL not long ago.
Offense against defense
The Nets score 111 a game and allow 123.7. The Hornets score 104 and allow 111. Pairing each offense with the other defense points to about 111 for the Nets and 113.9 for the Hornets, a simple check on the Win Meter's projection.
The Nets have defended better than the Hornets have scored, so the Hornets may need to find offense elsewhere.
Injuries to watch
Out: Tyler Bilodeau (BKN), expected back Oct 30, 2026, Joshua Jefferson (BKN), Grant Nelson (BKN), Drake Powell (BKN), and Ben Saraf (BKN).
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the series is even, with the Hornets outscoring the Nets by an average of 2.1 points per game. The last meeting was CHA 110, BKN 103.