The Brooklyn Nets have made some key roster decisions ahead of the trade deadline, choosing to keep Cameron Johnson and waiving Ben Simmons. On the court, the Nets are playing some of their best basketball of the season, heading into Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets in their best stretch of 2025.
Nets’ Situation:
The Nets have won four of their last five games after enduring a seven-game losing streak and dropping 12 of 13. In their recent victories, the Nets held each opponent below 100 points and didn’t allow any of them to shoot better than 41 percent.
Brooklyn’s hot streak began with a 104-83 victory at Charlotte on January 29, when they allowed their fewest points this season and held the Hornets to 33.7 percent shooting. The Nets’ latest win was an impressive 102-86 decision over the Miami Heat on Friday night, where they ended with a 31-9 fourth quarter, allowed 35.6 percent shooting (including 2 of 21 in the fourth), and blocked a season-best 13 shots.
Cameron Johnson led the Nets with 18 points in the win over Miami, following a 17-point performance on Wednesday in his return from an ankle injury. D’Angelo Russell added 17 points and had a crucial block on a 3-pointer that led to Keon Johnson’s late dunk. Nic Claxton has also been stepping up, reaching double figures for the fourth time in five games with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks.
Hornets’ Situation:
The Hornets are 2-9 in their last 11 games since winning three straight by a combined 12 points from January 15-20. Charlotte lost six consecutive games before Miles Bridges hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with one second left in Friday’s 117-116 win over the visiting San Antonio Spurs. However, they couldn’t follow it up with another win on Sunday, falling 112-102 to the Detroit Pistons after trailing by as many as 28 points early on.
Bridges scored 30 points and is averaging 24 points over his last nine games. Seth Curry added a season-high 26 points, but the Hornets allowed 39 points in the opening quarter and a 66-point first half before improving in the final 24 minutes. The Hornets played short-handed, missing LaMelo Ball (ankle), who was originally questionable but sat out for the seventh time in 10 games, dropping Charlotte to 1-17 without him this season.
Ball was held to 12 points in the first meeting against Brooklyn, where the Nets escaped with a 116-115 home win on November 19. If Ball is unable to play, KJ Simpson would likely start. The Hornets were also without Mark Williams, whose trade to the Los Angeles Lakers was rescinded due to a reported failed physical. Williams, averaging 15.6 points in 23 games this season, may be out again on Monday.
Key Players:
- Nets: Cameron Johnson, D’Angelo Russell, Nic Claxton, Keon Johnson
- Hornets: Miles Bridges, Seth Curry, LaMelo Ball (questionable), KJ Simpson (potential starter), Mark Williams (questionable)
