The Boston Celtics (5-1) used a strong fourth surge to take down a stubborn Charlotte Hornets team (2-3) 124-109 on November 2.
Jayson Tatum led the charge with 34 big points and 11 rebounds. Jaylen Brown was right behind him with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Neemias Queta was a game-changer off the bench, pouring in 12 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting while grabbing 4 crucial offensive rebounds.
For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball carried his impressive start to the season. He had 31 points and 4 assists tonight. Tre Mann provided solid support with 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Ball Was Balling but It Wasn’t Enough to Overcome the Celtics
The Hornets started out well until the Celtics blew the game wide open with a commanding 18-5 blast. Tatum closed the quarter in style, extending Boston’s lead to a strong 15 points at (40-25). Charlotte came out firing in the second, going on a 15-6 run. LaMelo Ball was definitely feeling it, draining 4 straight baskets en-route to 12 points. But Boston quickly answered with a flurry of their own, as Brown and White teamed up to restore the Celtics’ lead to 15 (58-43). Both teams were lighting it up from a distance but Charlotte gained the upper hand, with former Celtic Grant Williams drilling a three to pull his squad within 4 (61-65). The Celtics clung to a slim advantage heading into halftime.
The third erupted into a firestorm but Tatum seized the moment, leading a Celtics surge that pushed their lead back into double digits. But Charlotte refused to back down. Tre Mann gave them a much-needed boost, scoring 7 points to cut the deficit to a single point (84-85). The Celtics, however, held their ground heading into the final frame. Ball stepped into the spotlight, once more, drilling a pair of three-pointers to pull Charlotte within one (99-100). But the Celtics, fueled by the urgency of the moment, responded with a fierce 11-2 run, frustrating the Hornets as two players got ejected. Boston then sank all of its free throws to slam the door shut.
Up Next
Both teams will meet again tomorrow night on the same court.
