The Charlotte Hornets might just be for real.
That’s after the league’s hottest team in 2026 pulled out yet another impressive victory, this time dealing the Boston Celtics a 118-89 pummeling at TD Garden in Boston, no less.
Charlotte opened the game by scoring the first eight points en route to a 35-23 opening quarter. LaMelo Ball and company didn’t let up from there, outscoring the Cs 29-20 in the second to take a 64-43 lead at halftime. The Hornets extended that lead to 91-63 going into the fourth and cruised to their 32nd win of the season as against 31 losses. It is the first time the Hornets got over .500 this season.
Leading Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel led Charlotte with 20 points built on four triples, while Brandon Miller and Ball each fired 18. Coby White added 17 off the bench. Derrick White’s 29 paced the Celtics, followed by Jaylen Brown’s 20.
Hornets Continuing Shocking Turnaround
The Hornets started the season 4-14 and looked headed for another abysmal season. But they’ve gone 28-17 since and are 20-9 since January 1. They’ve also won six straight and have climbed to ninth in the East, firmly in Play-In territory and just 2.5 games from outright playoff contention.
This turnaround is, in a way, surprising given the Hornets’ relative youth. But that youth belies the undeniable talent in Buzz City, led by Ball, the point guard extraordinaire averaging 19.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. Knueppel has been a revelation as well, setting the rookie record in treys made in a season on his way to putting up 19.2 points on over three triples made a game. Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Moussa Diabate complete what has been a productive and hard-to-beat starting five.
Charlotte’s strong showing, though, will continue to be tested as the Hornets have the NBA’s tenth-toughest schedule. In the next few weeks, Buzz City will have to face the Detroit Pistons once, the Celtics twice more, and the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, too.
But if this wire-to-wire win is a portent of things to come, then the Hornets might just continue their winning ways.
