This late within the season, with the highest seed within the Japanese Convention locked up, the very best factor the Boston Celtics can do is keep wholesome and keep good habits. They’re engaged on the previous — Jaylen Brown is recovering from a hand sprain — however they did properly with the latter on Monday evening in Charlotte. They withstood a plucky first half from the Hornets and dominated within the second to attain the 118-104 win.
Jayson Tatum led the best way for Boston within the absence of his All-NBA teammate. He scored 25 factors, tacking on 10 rebounds, 4 assists and three shares for good measure. Kristaps Porzingis had a hard-nosed 20 factors, battling within the paint and forcing his technique to the charity stripe (7-of-8 on freebies). Tying the workforce lead in scoring was Sam Hauser, who knocked down seven threes en path to 25 factors of his personal. For the Hornets, the wing duo of Miles Bridges (26 factors) and Brandon Miller (19) paced the offense, whereas outdated good friend Grant Williams tacked on 21 in opposition to his former workforce.
It was a quick begin for Charlotte this night, as early surges from Bridges and Miller kick-started a 10-2 run for the Hornets to open play. It set the tone for an offense-forward sport early — a notable shift from Boston’s defensive dominance over New Orleans two nights prior. Bridges (10) and Miller (11) every recorded double-figure scoring within the opening body, and each groups shot properly from the sphere en path to a 32-30 benefit for Charlotte coming into the second quarter.
With Jaylen Brown sidelined with a hand sprain and Jrue Vacation scuffling with ineffectiveness (1-of-6 first half capturing), Derrick White stepped into elevated offensive accountability this night. Having averaged 15 factors per sport on 12 shot makes an attempt for the month of March, White put up 10 pictures within the first half alone, and completed with 19 factors for the sport on a hefty-for-his-standards workload on that finish of the ground.
The groups maintained their scoring tempo into the second quarter, because the Hornets continued to play environment friendly offense and the Celtics countered with a barrage of three-pointers. The disparity in capturing within the first half was cavernous — the Celtics hit 10 of their 27 three-point makes an attempt, whereas the Hornets responded with simply 4-of-14. However Charlotte managed to hold robust regardless of the imbalance because of well timed offensive rebounding and a bonus in ball management. Boston closed the primary half with their largest lead of the sport, nevertheless it was a slim one. They took a 59-53 lead into the halftime break.
The Celtics started to diligently and methodically prolong their lead as play resumed. They launched into a 14-4 run within the early minutes of the third quarter, widening their game-high benefit into the double-digits. Main the best way was Tatum, who set the tone with an assertive dunk in visitors. A rainbow three from Vasilije Micic and a few opportunistic play in transition from the Charlotte offense prevented the Celtics from fully blowing the sport open, however they nonetheless entered the fourth quarter having fun with a 16-point benefit, 95-79.
Hauser opened up the ultimate quarter together with his fourth triple of the evening, and adopted it up moments later together with his fifth, in response to a 3 from Bridges. Forward by 19 factors, the Celtics threatened to overwhelm Charlotte, however to their credit score, the younger Hornets refused to fold. Boston’s lead didn’t prolong any additional, nevertheless it didn’t diminish both — Charlotte by no means threatened once more, and Boston walked away with a 14-point win.
Subsequent up, the Celtics will face down one of many few remaining high-profile video games on their schedule, as they host the playoff-bound Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder this Wednesday at 7:30 PM on NBC Sports activities Boston.