The shorthanded Celtics (6-1) survive 21-point collapse to beat the Hornets (2-4) again, 111-101 on November 3.
With Jaylen Brown out, Jayson Tatum shouldered the load, scoring 29 points in a weird shooting performance. Though he shot a rough 1-for-9 from three, he was perfect 6-for-6 from close range and consistent at the line, hitting 14 of 17. Luke Kornet, stepping into the starting role, had a spotless night with 19 points on flawless shooting from the field and line. Payton Pritchard added 22 points, sinking 6 threes off the bench.
On the other side, LaMelo Ball ignited the Hornets’ offense with 36 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals while Brandon Miller’s return boosted the Hornets with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Boston’s Strong Start Catapulted Them to the Finish Line
The Celtics wasted no time in making their presence felt as Holiday and White ignited a fiery start with back-to-back three-pointers. Tatum then took the reins, scoring 13 points, including a late three-pointer, asserting their dominance with a 14-point lead (38-24).
Pritchard came out firing in the second including hitting three straight triples as he extended their advantage to 21 (59-38). Ball punched back scoring 10 points but Charlotte faced a daunting 18-point hole going into halftime.
But the Hornets started the second half with a 17-2 eruption that trimmed the Celtics’ lead to 3. Charlotte, who caught fire from beyond the arc, drilled five straight triples in that furious stretch. Just as the tide was about to turn, Holiday stepped forward and delivered a three-pointer of his own to stem the bleeding. The Celtics then turned to their bench to reclaim a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Ball refused to go down and rallied his team with a 10-point surge but the Celtics have answers for everything, maintaining their grip on a 101-91 lead. Kornet made sure his presence is felt with a 6 point surge. Another three from Holiday and 7 point outburst from Tatum, finally put the Hornets away for good.
Up Next
The Celtics visit the Hawks on Tuesday while Charlotte meets the Timberwolves.
