Brooklyn Nets Dominate Hapoel Jerusalem 123-88 in Preseason Opener at Barclays Center

The Brooklyn Nets opened their 2025 preseason with a commanding 123-88 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem, showcasing a mix of promising rookie talent and established players. Coach Jordi Fernández started with a lineup featuring Ben Saraf, Cam Thomas, Terance Mann, Michael Porter Jr., and Nic Claxton, while also giving significant minutes to rookies like Nolan Traore and Wolf, highlighting their potential roles in the team. Saraf impressed with his playmaking and steady pace despite early foul trouble, while Traore showed speed and creativity, suggesting a promising future once his shooting improves. The game revealed the Nets' physical defensive style and hustle, though some fouling and sloppiness were noted against the less competitive opposition. Brooklyn’s young guards, including Saraf, Traore, and Bufkin, are being evaluated for optimal roles as the team prepares for more challenging matchups ahead, such as their upcoming game against the Phoenix Suns in China. Despite the strong preseason start, analysts remain cautious about the Nets' potential to be playoff contenders this season.