Nets, 76ers Set for Second Preseason Test Thursday

The Brooklyn Nets will return to action Thursday night when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers in their second preseason game of the 2026-27 season.

Brooklyn enters the matchup coming off an impressive 124-90 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night. The Nets knocked down 20 three-pointers and pulled away after halftime, outscoring Charlotte 68-38 over the final two quarters.

Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 16 points in the win, scoring 10 in the opening quarter, while Julius Randle added 13 points in his first preseason appearance with the Nets. Nolan Traoré also made an impact off the bench with 10 points, while Egor Dëmin finished with five assists after starting at point guard.

The matchup with Philadelphia should provide a different test, especially with the 76ers expected to have more of their key players available.

Philadelphia opened its preseason Monday with a 120-97 win over the New York Knicks. Jaylen Brown led the Sixers with 22 points, while Caleb Love contributed 15 points and six assists off the bench. VJ Edgecombe also had a strong showing, finishing with 12 points and seven assists.

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and LeBron James did not play in Philadelphia's preseason opener, but all three are expected to be available against Brooklyn. Head coach Nick Nurse said that a majority of the Sixers' players should play Thursday, setting up a much different challenge for the Nets than the one they faced in Charlotte.

Philadelphia will also be without several players dealing with injuries. Dominick Barlow remains out with a back issue, while Anfernee Simons is dealing with hamstring tightness. Adem Bona has progressed to on-court work but has already been ruled out for Thursday's game. Ariel Hukporti also suffered a torn right Achilles during Philadelphia's preseason opener and will be unavailable.

Brooklyn will also be shorthanded for Thursday's matchup.

Michael Porter Jr. (left wrist soreness), Day'Ron Sharpe (left shoulder soreness), Mikel Brown Jr. (ankle recovery), and Joshua Jefferson (lower back) will all miss the game, according to sources.

Porter Jr. was Brooklyn's leading scorer in Tuesday's preseason opener, making his absence a notable one for the Nets. Josh Minott could step into the starting lineup in his place, while Moritz Wagner is expected to have an opportunity to start with Sharpe sidelined.

Brown Jr. and Jefferson also missed Tuesday's win over Charlotte, so Thursday will be another opportunity for Brooklyn's other young players to take on increased minutes.

The game could also provide another opportunity for Nolan Traoré and Ben Saraf to continue making their cases in the Nets' battle for the backup point guard role. Traoré scored 10 points in just 10 minutes Tuesday, while Saraf finished with eight points in 15 minutes.

With Porter Jr. and Sharpe unavailable, Brooklyn will have to rely on more production from Randle, along with its young core, against a Philadelphia team expected to have several of its stars on the floor.

The Nets and 76ers will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday night. With Philadelphia expected to bring more of its top players into the mix, Brooklyn will get an early preseason look at how its young roster responds to a tougher test while dealing with some key absences of its own.