Grayson Allen scored 21 points off the bench while Naz Reid totaled 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists as the duo made a strong first impression for their new team as the Charlotte Hornets earned a 110-103 victory over the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night in New York.
Acquired from Phoenix in an offseason deal for Miles Bridges, Allen made 6 of 9 shots and sank five of Charlotte’s 15 3-pointers. The Hornets also outscored the Nets by 20 points in his 29 minutes.
Obtained from Minnesota for LaMelo Ball in the offseason, Reid made 8 of 18 shots, including 4 of 10 from distance. Reid finished with his 17th career 20-10 game and helped Charlotte score 20 second-chance points.
Dennis Schroder debuted for his 12th NBA team by contributing 19 points and six assists. Brandon Miller contributed 18 and Moussa Diabate finished with 17 for the Hornets.
The Hornets shot 44.6% and hit 15 of 48 3-point tries.
Julius Randle led all scorers with 33 points in his debut for the Nets. Michael Porter Jr. began his second season in Brooklyn by finishing with 26 points and seven rebounds, but the veteran duo were the only two in double figures for the Nets.
Brooklyn newcomers Keon Ellis and Moritz Wagner were held to seven points apiece. First-round pick Mikel Brown debuted with six points while second-year point guard Egor Demin finished with four on 2-of-10 shooting.
The Nets shot 45% and made 12 of 31 3-point tries but took 12 fewer shots than Charlotte.
Miller scored 12 first-quarter points, including eight straight at one point as Charlotte held a 27-23 lead through the opening quarter. The Hornets briefly held a nine-point lead late in the second and took a 54-48 lead by halftime on Diabate’s open layup with 1.2 seconds left.
Diabate’s 3-point play gave Charlotte a 10-point lead less than two minutes into the third quarter and the Nets countered with 12 straight points for a 64-62 lead on Porter’s four-point play with 8:12 left.
Two free throws by Nolan Traore forged a 72-all tie with 4:13 left and Brooklyn used a timeout after Allen sank open 3s on consecutive possessions for a 78-72 lead with 3:03 remaining.
Charlotte expanded its lead to 83-74 on Reid’s 3-pointer with 1:53 left and held an 86-81 advantage into the fourth. Schroder scored eight straight Charlotte points and his drive opened a 102-92 lead with 5:38 left to put the Hornets in control.
