Boston Celtics Cruise Past Charlotte Hornets in Wild, Chippy Game

The defending champs quiet the Hornets at home. Photo Charlotte Hornets Instagram

Tatum & Brown Dominate, Celtics Keep Their Cool

Jayson Tatum dropped 32 points and grabbed 11 boards while Jaylen Brown added 25 points in Boston's 124-109 win. The Celtics pulled away in the final moments, showing their championship grit despite a fiery fourth quarter. Derrick White pitched in with 17 points and Jrue Holiday added 14, keeping the Celtics’ offense balanced and strong.

LaMelo Ball Leads Hornets, But Foul Trouble Strikes

LaMelo Ball had a fiery 31 points for the Hornets, but foul trouble did him no favors. Ball fouled out after a rough sequence where he committed a flagrant foul on Tatum’s 3-point attempt. Despite his exit, Charlotte was still in the game, making it interesting until the final few minutes.

Tempers Flare, Ejections Shake Things Up

Things got real spicy in the fourth quarter. Grant Williams was ejected after running over Tatum near halfcourt. Ball’s flagrant foul on Tatum wasn’t the end—Miles Bridges was tossed with just seconds left, as chaos ensued. The Hornets’ frustration boiled over, giving Boston a chance to stay composed and pull ahead.

Hornets Deal with Injuries, Rely on Youngsters

Charlotte was missing key players, including Brandon Miller and Mark Williams. Rookie Tidjane Salaun stepped up, scoring 9 points. Salaun knocked down three 3-pointers, showing some promise for the future. But with center depth a major concern, small-ball may be the Hornets' go-to strategy moving forward.

Free Throws and Fouls: Celtics Dominate the Line

Boston owned the free-throw line, shooting 29 of 35, while Charlotte could only manage 13 of 19. The Hornets racked up 26 fouls, giving the Celtics plenty of opportunities to extend their lead late in the game. Despite Charlotte’s effort, they just couldn’t keep up with Boston’s foul-shooting prowess.

Holiday's Big 3-Point Shot Puts Game Away

With the Hornets closing the gap to six, Jrue Holiday delivered a clutch 3-pointer to seal the deal. That dagger pushed Boston’s lead back to a comfortable margin, ensuring they’d escape with the win. The Celtics showed their experience, shutting down any hopes of a Charlotte comeback.

Next Game: Celtics vs. Hornets, Round Two

The teams meet again on Saturday night, with Charlotte hoping to bounce back from this hard-fought loss at home.