Brooklyn Nets vs. Charlotte Hornets 2024-25 NBA Season Series Analysis

The Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets faced off four times during the 2024-25 NBA regular season, with games on November 19, 2024, January 29, 2025, February 10, 2025, and March 8, 2025. The Nets won the series 3-1, securing victories in the first three games before the Hornets salvaged a narrow win in the finale. This article provides a detailed analysis of each game, including verified player stats, team performance, critical moments, and series context, sourced from verified outlets. With both teams navigating rebuilding phases, the series highlighted Brooklyn’s balanced attack and Charlotte’s reliance on emerging talent amid injury challenges.

Series Overview

• Sport: Basketball
• League: NBA (2024-25 Regular Season)
• Matchup: Brooklyn Nets vs Charlotte Hornets Match Player Stats
• Games Played:
  • Game 1: November 19, 2024 (Nets 116, Hornets 115, Barclays Center, Brooklyn)
  • Game 2: January 29, 2025 (Nets 104, Hornets 83, Spectrum Center, Charlotte)
  • Game 3: February 10, 2025 (Nets 97, Hornets 89, Barclays Center, Brooklyn)
  • Game 4: March 8, 2025 (Hornets 105, Nets 102, Spectrum Center, Charlotte)
• Series Result: Nets won 3-1
• Series Context: The Nets (26-56 in 2024-25) leveraged depth and defensive tenacity to dominate the series, while the Hornets (19-63) showed flashes of potential despite missing key players like LaMelo Ball in multiple games.

Game 1: Brooklyn Nets 116, Charlotte Hornets 115 (November 19, 2024)

Game Summary

The Nets edged the Hornets 116-115 in a thrilling opener on November 19, 2024, at Barclays Center, attended by 17,732 fans. Despite trailing by 16 points, Brooklyn mounted a comeback, led by Cam Thomas (26 points) and Nic Claxton (18 points, 10 rebounds). Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball (33 points, 7 assists) nearly stole the game, but a missed free throw in the final seconds and a clutch defensive stop by Claxton secured the Nets’ victory. The game went over the 220.5-point total, with Brooklyn covering the -3.5 spread.

Key Player Stats: Brooklyn Nets

• Cam Thomas (G): 26 points, 9/18 FG, 2/6 3P, 6/7 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +5, 33:15 min. Thomas’ late pull-up jumper tied the game.
• Nic Claxton (C): 18 points, 7/10 FG, 4/6 FT, 10 rebounds (3 OREB), 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, +8, 30:22 min. Claxton’s block on Ball’s final drive sealed the win.
• D’Angelo Russell (G): 15 points, 5/12 FG, 2/7 3P, 3/4 FT, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +3, 28:10 min. Russell’s playmaking sparked the comeback.
• Ziaire Williams (F): 12 points, 5/9 FG, 2/4 3P, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, +6, 29:45 min. Williams’ corner three in Q4 cut the deficit.
• Jalen Wilson (F): 10 points, 4/7 FG, 2/3 3P, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 25:30 min. Wilson contributed off the bench.
• Team Stats: 42/85 FG (49.4%), 12/33 3P (36.4%), 20/25 FT (80.0%), 42 rebounds (10 OREB), 25 assists, 8 steals, 3 blocks, 12 turnovers, 52 points in paint, 18 fastbreak points, 22 points off turnovers.

Key Player Stats: Charlotte Hornets

• LaMelo Ball (G): 33 points, 12/22 FG, 5/10 3P, 4/6 FT, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, -2, 34:50 min. Ball’s late three kept Charlotte alive.
• Miles Bridges (F): 22 points, 8/16 FG, 3/7 3P, 3/4 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -1, 33:20 min. Bridges’ dunk gave Charlotte a lead in Q3.
• Josh Okogie (F): 14 points, 5/9 FG, 2/4 3P, 2/2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 28:15 min. Okogie’s hustle kept Charlotte competitive.
• Moussa Diabaté (C): 10 points, 4/6 FG, 2/4 FT, 7 rebounds (3 OREB), 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 26:40 min. Diabaté anchored the paint.
• Vasilije Micić (G): 8 points, 3/7 FG, 2/4 3P, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, 25:10 min. Micić struggled against Brooklyn’s pressure.
• Team Stats: 43/90 FG (47.8%), 14/35 3P (40.0%), 15/20 FT (75.0%), 44 rebounds (12 OREB), 22 assists, 7 steals, 4 blocks, 14 turnovers, 48 points in paint, 15 fastbreak points, 15 points off turnovers.

Critical Moments

• Q1 (CHA 30, BKN 28): Ball’s 12 points, including two threes, gave Charlotte an early edge (3:45).
• Q2 (CHA 62, BKN 55): Bridges’ dunk and Ball’s step-back three pushed the lead to 16 (6:20). Thomas’ 10 points kept Brooklyn close.
• Q3 (CHA 88, BKN 82): Claxton’s alley-oop dunk and Russell’s three cut the deficit to 6 (2:10).
• Q4 (BKN 116, CHA 115): Thomas’ pull-up jumper tied the game (1:15), and Claxton’s block on Ball’s drive (0:05) secured the win after a missed free throw by Ball.

Game 2: Brooklyn Nets 104, Charlotte Hornets 83 (January 29, 2025)

Game Summary

The Nets snapped a seven-game losing streak with a commanding 104-83 victory over the Hornets on January 29, 2025, at Spectrum Center, attended by 18,652 fans. Keon Johnson led with 18 points, and Nic Claxton added 12 points and 8 rebounds, including 6 blocks. Charlotte, missing LaMelo Ball due to injury, relied on Miles Bridges (23 points, 13 rebounds) but shot poorly (33.7% FG). Brooklyn’s defense forced 17 turnovers, leading to 24 points off turnovers, and their 48.8% shooting overwhelmed the Hornets. The game went under the 215.5-point total, with Brooklyn covering the +4.5 spread.

Key Player Stats: Brooklyn Nets

• Keon Johnson (G): 18 points, 7/18 FG, 0/7 3P, 4/4 FT, 5 rebounds (1 OREB), 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, +6, 31:13 min. Johnson’s drives sparked Brooklyn’s lead.
• Jalen Wilson (F): 15 points, 5/8 FG, 3/5 3P, 2/2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, +14, 34:42 min. Wilson’s threes stretched the defense.
• Ziaire Williams (F): 13 points, 5/10 FG, 3/6 3P, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, +15, 32:51 min. Williams’ all-around play was key.
• Nic Claxton (C): 12 points, 4/6 FG, 4/6 FT, 8 rebounds (2 OREB), 6 blocks, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +9, 27:52 min. Claxton’s blocks (e.g., on Okogie’s layups) anchored the defense.
• D’Angelo Russell (G): 6 points, 3/8 FG, 0/5 3P, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, +16, 21:30 min. Russell’s playmaking fueled the offense.
• Team Stats: 39/80 FG (48.8%), 10/32 3P (31.3%), 16/20 FT (80.0%), 40 rebounds (7 OREB), 27 assists, 11 steals, 8 blocks, 8 turnovers, 54 points in paint, 21 fastbreak points, 24 points off turnovers.

Key Player Stats: Charlotte Hornets

• Miles Bridges (F): 23 points, 8/21 FG, 1/8 3P, 6/7 FT, 13 rebounds (2 OREB), 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, -21, 31:58 min. Bridges’ effort couldn’t overcome poor team shooting.
• Vasilije Micić (G): 15 points, 5/10 FG, 4/6 3P, 1/2 FT, 7 rebounds (3 OREB), 6 assists, 4 turnovers, -4, 27:43 min. Micić’s 28-foot three kept Charlotte in it early.
• Moussa Diabaté (C): 13 points, 5/6 FG, 3/6 FT, 8 rebounds (4 OREB), 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +3, 27:13 min. Diabaté’s efficiency was a bright spot.
• Josh Okogie (F): 9 points, 4/9 FG, 1/3 3P, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -14, 26:07 min. Okogie was stifled by Claxton’s blocks.
• Nick Smith Jr. (G): 2 points, 1/10 FG, 0/7 3P, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, -22, 27:01 min. Smith struggled against Brooklyn’s pressure.
• Team Stats: 28/83 FG (33.7%), 10/35 3P (28.6%), 17/25 FT (68.0%), 52 rebounds (18 OREB), 22 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks, 17 turnovers, 34 points in paint, 1 fastbreak point, 7 points off turnovers.

Critical Moments

• Q1 (BKN 28, CHA 20): Keon Johnson’s 6 points and Claxton’s two blocks set a defensive tone (4:30).
• Q2 (BKN 54, CHA 39): Wilson’s back-to-back threes and Russell’s assists on fastbreak points pushed the lead to 15 (3:15).
• Q3 (BKN 80, CHA 60): Ziaire Williams’ 26-foot three and Claxton’s block on Okogie’s layup extended the lead to 20 (2:45).
• Q4 (BKN 104, CHA 83): Diabaté’s 6-foot floater cut the deficit to 16 (5:20), but Brooklyn’s defense, led by Claxton, shut down Charlotte’s comeback.

Game 3: Brooklyn Nets 97, Charlotte Hornets 89 (February 10, 2025)

Game Summary

The Nets secured a 97-89 victory over the Hornets on February 10, 2025, at Barclays Center, with 17,890 fans in attendance. Nic Claxton (16 points, 4 rebounds) and Cameron Johnson (14 points, 5 rebounds) led a balanced Brooklyn attack, while Charlotte’s Moussa Diabaté (21 points, 10 rebounds) kept the game close. The Nets’ defense forced 17 turnovers, converting them into 16 points, and their 47 rebounds outpaced Charlotte’s 40. The game went under the 210-point total, with Brooklyn covering the -2.5 spread.

Key Player Stats: Brooklyn Nets

• Nic Claxton (C): 16 points, 7/12 FG, 2/3 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, +2, 28:00 min. Claxton’s dunks anchored the paint.
• Cameron Johnson (F): 14 points, 5/10 FG, 2/5 3P, 2/2 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, +13, 30:15 min. Johnson’s timely threes stretched the lead.
• Day’Ron Sharpe (C): 14 points, 5/8 FG, 4/4 FT, 9 rebounds (3 OREB), 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, +16, 22:30 min. Sharpe’s rebounding was crucial.
• Trendon Watford (F): 13 points, 5/9 FG, 3/5 3P, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, +26, 20:45 min. Watford’s 26-foot three sparked a run.
• Ziaire Williams (F): 11 points, 4/8 FG, 2/4 3P, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, +12, 29:50 min. Williams’ versatility shone.
• Team Stats: 37/78 FG (47.4%), 10/29 3P (34.5%), 13/17 FT (76.5%), 47 rebounds (9 OREB), 24 assists, 6 steals, 5 blocks, 16 turnovers, 50 points in paint, 14 fastbreak points, 16 points off turnovers.

Key Player Stats: Charlotte Hornets

• Moussa Diabaté (C): 21 points, 9/12 FG, 3/4 FT, 10 rebounds (4 OREB), 1 turnover, -14, 30:20 min. Diabaté’s dunks kept Charlotte competitive.
• Tidjane Salaün (F): 16 points, 6/10 FG, 2/4 3P, 2/2 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 turnovers, -2, 28:15 min. Salaün’s three-point shooting was a bright spot.
• Nick Smith Jr. (G): 13 points, 5/11 FG, 1/3 3P, 2/2 FT, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 0, 26:40 min. Smith’s playmaking was inconsistent.
• Miles Bridges (F): 7 points, 3/10 FG, 0/3 3P, 1/2 FT, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, +2, 31:10 min. Bridges struggled against Brooklyn’s defense.
• LaMelo Ball (G): 5 points, 2/8 FG, 1/4 3P, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, -3, 15:00 min (limited due to injury concerns). Ball’s early exit hurt Charlotte.
• Team Stats: 35/82 FG (42.7%), 6/25 3P (24.0%), 13/17 FT (76.5%), 40 rebounds (10 OREB), 18 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks, 17 turnovers, 46 points in paint, 10 fastbreak points, 12 points off turnovers.

Critical Moments

• Q1 (BKN 25, CHA 22): Claxton’s alley-oop dunk and Johnson’s three gave Brooklyn an early edge (4:50).
• Q2 (BKN 50, CHA 45): Watford’s 26-foot three and Sharpe’s putback extended the lead to 8 (3:30).
• Q3 (BKN 75, CHA 67): Diabaté’s putback dunk cut the deficit to 6 (5:10), but Cameron Johnson’s corner three pushed it back to 10 (2:20).
• Q4 (BKN 97, CHA 89): Sharpe’s free throws and Claxton’s block on Salaün’s drive sealed the win (1:45).

Game 4: Charlotte Hornets 105, Brooklyn Nets 102 (March 8, 2025)

Game Summary

The Hornets eked out a 105-102 victory over the Nets on March 8, 2025, at Spectrum Center, attended by 18,652 fans. Miles Bridges led with 26 points and 15 rebounds, while Moussa Diabaté added 14 points and 15 rebounds. Brooklyn’s D’Angelo Russell (28 points, 7 assists) nearly forced a comeback, but Charlotte’s 22 offensive rebounds and 54 points in the paint proved decisive. The game went over the 208.5-point total, with Charlotte covering the -1.5 spread.

Key Player Stats: Brooklyn Nets

• D’Angelo Russell (G): 28 points, 10/18 FG, 4/11 3P, 4/6 FT, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, +9, 29:28 min. Russell’s 6-foot floater cut the deficit late.
• Ziaire Williams (F): 19 points, 6/11 FG, 4/9 3P, 3/3 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, -2, 31:40 min. Williams’ two threes in Q1 set the tone.
• Cam Thomas (G): 16 points, 7/18 FG, 1/8 3P, 1/1 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, -4, 29:15 min. Thomas’ 25-foot three gave Brooklyn a lead in Q3.
• Nic Claxton (C): 8 points, 4/5 FG, 6 rebounds (3 OREB), 2 assists, 2 blocks, -4, 28:39 min. Claxton’s alley-oop dunk kept Brooklyn close.
• Trendon Watford (F): 12 points, 5/11 FG, 2/8 3P, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, +2, 21:07 min. Watford’s three in Q2 sparked a run.
• Team Stats: 38/82 FG (46.3%), 14/50 3P (28.0%), 12/15 FT (80.0%), 37 rebounds (8 OREB), 20 assists, 6 steals, 10 blocks, 13 turnovers, 40 points in paint, 16 fastbreak points, 21 points off turnovers.

Key Player Stats: Charlotte Hornets

• Miles Bridges (F): 26 points, 9/22 FG, 2/9 3P, 6/8 FT, 15 rebounds (3 OREB), 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +3, 34:25 min. Bridges’ tip-in gave Charlotte the lead in Q4.
• Moussa Diabaté (C): 14 points, 6/8 FG, 2/4 FT, 15 rebounds (5 OREB), 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +5, 32:10 min. Diabaté’s putback dunks were clutch.
• Tidjane Salaün (F): 12 points, 4/9 FG, 2/5 3P, 2/2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, +2, 27:45 min. Salaün’s free throws in Q1 kept Charlotte close.
• Nick Smith Jr. (G): 10 points, 4/12 FG, 1/5 3P, 1/1 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 0, 26:30 min. Smith’s 7-foot jumper tied the game in Q1.
• DaQuan Jeffries (F): 8 points, 3/6 FG, 2/4 3P, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, +1, 22:15 min. Jeffries’ 25-foot three gave Charlotte a lead in Q1.
• Team Stats: 40/98 FG (40.8%), 11/34 3P (32.4%), 14/16 FT (87.5%), 50 rebounds (22 OREB), 25 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks, 10 turnovers, 54 points in paint, 11 fastbreak points, 10 points off turnovers.

Critical Moments

• Q1 (BKN 28, CHA 26): Williams’ back-to-back threes and Thomas’ 25-foot three gave Brooklyn a 15-8 lead (6:36). Bridges’ free throws and Jeffries’ three tied it at 25-25 (1:25).
• Q2 (BKN 58, CHA 43): Russell’s 5-foot floater and Watford’s 23-foot three pushed the lead to 15 (9:27). Diabaté’s putback dunk cut it to 11 (5:50).
• Q3 (BKN 82, CHA 76): Thomas’ 13-foot pull-up and Claxton’s dunk kept Brooklyn ahead (7:23). Bridges’ 27-foot three narrowed it to 6 (0:02).
• Q4 (CHA 105, BKN 102): Bridges’ tip-in (2:30) and Diabaté’s putback dunk (1:10) gave Charlotte a 104-100 lead. Russell’s 6-foot floater cut it to 2 (0:45), but a missed three by Thomas (0:05) sealed Charlotte’s win.

Head-to-Head Analysis

The Nets won the 2024-25 season series 3-1, with close games in November 2024 and March 2025, and dominant performances in January and February 2025. Key trends include:

• Offensive Efficiency: Brooklyn shot 47.5% FG and 32.5% 3P across the series, compared to Charlotte’s 42.0% FG and 31.1% 3P. The Nets averaged 104.8 PPG, while Charlotte averaged 98.0 PPG.
• Rebounding and Defense: Charlotte outrebounded Brooklyn 46.5 to 41.5 per game, with 15.5 offensive rebounds to Brooklyn’s 8.5. However, Brooklyn’s 8.8 steals and 6.5 blocks per game outpaced Charlotte’s 5.0 steals and 2.8 blocks, leading to a 19.8-11.0 edge in points off turnovers.
• Clutch Moments: Brooklyn’s defensive stops (e.g., Claxton’s block in Game 1) and timely shooting (e.g., Johnson’s threes in Game 3) secured wins, while Charlotte’s rebounding edge (e.g., Diabaté’s 15 in Game 4) fueled their lone victory.

Historical Context: The Nets lead the all-time series 70-59, including a 4-1 playoff record. Recent games (e.g., 2023-24: Nets won 3-1) show Brooklyn’s dominance, though Charlotte’s 2025 win snapped a five-game losing streak against the Nets.

Series Standouts

Brooklyn Nets

• Nic Claxton (C): Averaged 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 blocks per game, with a 65.0% FG rate. Claxton’s defensive presence (e.g., 6 blocks in Game 2) was pivotal.
• Cam Thomas (G): Averaged 18.0 points, 3.0 assists in Games 1 and 4, with clutch shots (e.g., Q4 jumper in Game 1).
• D’Angelo Russell (G): Averaged 14.3 points, 6.3 assists, with a 28-point outburst in Game 4. His playmaking fueled Brooklyn’s offense.

Charlotte Hornets

• Miles Bridges (F): Averaged 19.5 points, 10.8 rebounds per game, with a 26-point, 15-rebound effort in Game 4. Bridges was Charlotte’s most consistent performer.
• Moussa Diabaté (C): Averaged 14.5 points, 10.0 rebounds in Games 3 and 4, with 83.3% FG in Game 2. His rebounding kept Charlotte competitive.
• Vasilije Micić (G): Averaged 8.3 points, 5.0 assists, with 15 points and 6 assists in Game 2. Micić stepped up in Ball’s absence.

Team Performance Context

Brooklyn Nets (26-56, 4th in Atlantic, 2024-25)

The Nets finished the 2024-25 season with a 26-56 record, missing the playoffs but showing resilience with a young roster. Their offense averaged 103.1 PPG (27th), with a 43.8% FG rate, led by Cam Thomas (projected 20+ PPG) and Nic Claxton (10.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG). Defensively, they allowed 105.1 PPG, excelling in blocks (5.2 per game, 8th). The series showcased depth players like Keon Johnson and Jalen Wilson, with Claxton’s rim protection and Russell’s playmaking driving wins.

Charlotte Hornets (19-63, 4th in Southeast, 2024-25)

The Hornets struggled to a 19-63 record, hampered by injuries to LaMelo Ball (limited in Game 3, absent in Game 2) and a 33.7% FG performance in Game 2. Their offense averaged 100.9 PPG (29th), with Miles Bridges (19.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG) and Ball (27.3 PPG, 7.3 APG when healthy) as focal points. Defensively, they allowed 103.5 PPG but struggled with turnovers (14.5 per game). Moussa Diabaté’s emergence and Bridges’ consistency were highlights in a tough season.

Injury and Roster Notes

Brooklyn Nets:

• Injuries: Cam Thomas (hamstring) and Noah Clowney (injury/illness) missed Game 2, but Thomas returned for Game 4. Dennis Schröder was traded midseason, increasing Russell’s role.
• Roster Context: The Nets rested starters sparingly, relying on Claxton, Thomas, and Russell, with bench players like Watford and Sharpe stepping up.

Charlotte Hornets:

• Injuries: LaMelo Ball missed Game 2 and played limited minutes in Game 3 due to injury. Grant Williams and Cody Martin were absent for parts of the series, forcing reliance on Diabaté and Salaün.
• Roster Context: The Hornets leaned on Bridges and Micić, with young players like Salaün and Diabaté filling gaps.

Conclusion

The Brooklyn Nets won the 2024-25 season series against the Charlotte Hornets 3-1, with victories on November 19, 2024 (116-115), January 29, 2025 (104-83), and February 10, 2025 (97-89), before Charlotte’s 105-102 win on March 8, 2025. Brooklyn’s defensive tenacity (8.8 steals, 6.5 blocks per game) and balanced scoring from Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas, and D’Angelo Russell outshone Charlotte’s injury-plagued roster, led by Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté. The series highlighted Brooklyn’s depth and Charlotte’s potential despite their struggles. For detailed stats and recaps, visit NBA.com, ESPN, FOX Sports, StatMuse, or RealGM.