Two teams looking for a spark will meet Wednesday night in Brooklyn, where the Nets can build on a hard-earned win over Indiana and the Hornets can try to stop a three-game slide. As of Monday, Nov. 2, Brooklyn is 1-6 and Charlotte is 3-5. Both clubs are early in the season’s long story, still learning how their new groups fit together. That makes this game a chance to grab confidence before the next chapter begins.

Brooklyn’s clearest guide is Julius Randle. The strong forward has given the young Nets a steady scoring and passing presence, averaging 20.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and nearly five assists. An assist is a pass that leads directly to a basket, and Randle’s vision matters because Brooklyn has several young guards and wings who need open lanes and clean looks. He can power toward the rim, pull defenders close, then find Michael Porter Jr. waiting on the outside.

Porter is another major problem for Charlotte to solve. His 20.7 points per game come from a smooth shooting touch and the ability to rise over smaller defenders. Brooklyn makes 35 percent of its three-point shots, much better than Charlotte’s 29.6 percent. That gap could shape the night if Randle’s passing creates open shots for Porter and the Nets’ other shooters.

Still, Brooklyn has not made the climb easy on itself. The Nets turn the ball over 18.6 times per game, giving opponents too many extra chances. They also will be without 6-foot-9 guard Egor Demin, whose size and passing would have added another option. Rookie Mikel Brown Jr. and speedy guard Nolan Traore could see important chances to push the action, but Randle must help keep the offense organized.

Charlotte arrives with a different kind of challenge. The Hornets rebound well, grabbing 46.8 per game, and that strength starts a tough battle against Brooklyn center Day’Ron Sharpe. Sharpe brings muscle and energy near the basket, collecting 7.4 rebounds in only 22.5 minutes per game. Charlotte needs Naz Reid and its other big players to keep him from creating second chances after misses.

Brandon Miller is the Hornets’ leading scorer at 23.5 points per game, even while his outside shots have not fallen often yet. The 6-foot-9 forward can use his length to shoot over defenders and attack closer to the hoop. With Kon Knueppel out because of a hamstring injury, Miller has an even bigger job creating points. Coby White, who has played only one game this season, may help with ball movement, but Charlotte must cut down its 19.8 turnovers per game.

The Hornets showed fight in a close loss to Philadelphia, but their latest loss at Detroit showed how quickly a game can get away when stops and shots do not arrive. Brooklyn has had its own rough nights, yet its recent win over Indiana offers a useful blueprint: defend, rebound, and let its veteran scorers lead.

Charlotte’s work on the glass can keep this close, but Brooklyn has the stronger shooting and the home floor. Prediction: the Nets win behind Randle and Porter.

Julius Randle and Brandon Miller Set the Tone in Brooklyn