Opportunity seized: Danny Wolf leads Nets to victory

The start of the 2026/27 NBA season offered little promise for the Brooklyn Nets' Israeli duo. Ben Saraf found himself assigned to the G League, Danny Wolf could barely break into the rotation, and hopes of seeing either play a significant role in Brooklyn seemed increasingly remote.

Yet last week brought a potential turning point. Handed his most extended action of the campaign, Wolf seized the moment to emerge as a key catalyst in Brooklyn’s 114-104 comeback victory over the Charlotte Hornets, delivering the team's first home win of the season.

Head coach Jordi Fernandez rewarded the young forward with 19 minutes on the floor, and Wolf delivered across the stat sheet: 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists. He was efficient throughout, shooting 4-of-6 from the field - including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc - alongside a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. His game-high +17 plus-minus rating matched Michael Porter Jr. for the team lead, though it was the timely impact of his production that truly shifted the tide for Brooklyn.

Wolf, who had been buried at the end of the bench through the opening weeks, capitalized on playing time opened up by Noah Clowney’s injury and underwhelming performances elsewhere in the frontcourt. Rather than settling for a passive role, Wolf played with poise and aggressiveness, proving his capability as a dual-threat contributor on both ends of the floor - supplying the exact spark a 1-6 Brooklyn squad desperately needed.

The contest initially belonged to Charlotte, who arrived in Brooklyn seeking to snap a four-game losing streak and held a 57-50 cushion at the half. The Nets struggled to string together defensive stops early, but flipped the script entirely after the break. Brooklyn outscored the visitors 64-47 across the final two quarters, erasing a 10-point deficit to secure their second win of the season following an earlier road victory in Indiana.

Wolf sat directly at the heart of the second-half rally. Midway through the third quarter, he drilled a crucial three-pointer to push Brooklyn ahead 61-59, followed immediately by an aggressive drive past Naz Reid for a rim finish. Early in the fourth quarter, with the teams deadlocked, the Israeli connected on another strike from deep to restore the hosts' lead. With under four minutes remaining and Brooklyn holding a seven-point margin, Wolf capped a fast break with an and-one finish that brought the bench and the home crowd to their feet.

The performance served as a strong statement from a player starved of opportunity. Wolf showcased not only his perimeter touch, but also strong decision-making, positional versatility, and an efficient off-ball approach. For Fernandez, the display provides a clear reminder of the untapped depth sitting at the end of his bench as the franchise continues its rebuild.

Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets in scoring with a strong double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds. Julius Randle added 22 points, Mikel Brown Jr. chipped in 18, and Nolan Traore scored 16. Day'Ron Sharpe was held to five points but dished out a career-high eight assists, while Terance Mann posted a +11 in 16 scoreless minutes off the bench in his return to the rotation.

For Charlotte, whose skid extended to five games as they fell to 3-6, Naz Reid paced the offense with 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting, complemented by Grayson Allen’s 22 points. Brandon Miller endured a brutal night from the floor, finishing with 10 points on 2-of-15 shooting (1-of-10 from three). Rookie Kon Knueppel, making his season debut after recovering from a hamstring strain, exited early in the first quarter due to left leg discomfort and did not return.

While one victory will not fundamentally alter Brooklyn's baseline expectations for the season, it provides welcome breathing room after a grueling start. For Wolf, it represented far more than a 13-point box score - it was his first extended opportunity to showcase his capabilities at the NBA level, and he made it count.