Hornets’ Hot Start Fizzles Out Against Celtics

Ball Scores 30+ PTS Again, Boston Takes Control with Late 1^st-Half Run, Big 3^rd Quarter

The Charlotte Hornets certainly got off to the kind of start they were envisioning going up against the NBA-leading Boston Celtics, but that momentum only lasted so long in a 122-106 home loss on Saturday night.

LaMelo Ball almost notched a new season high for the second straight night, finishing with 31 points on 11-of-27 shooting, seven rebounds and nine assists. This marked the second time Ball has ever tallied consecutive 30-point games, the first instance taking place last February. Terry Rozier (21) and PJ Washington (14) were the other Charlotte players to score in double figures.

Down 16 at one point in the second quarter, Boston closed the half on a 15-4 run, then won the third, 33-19, thanks in large part to Jayson Tatum scoring 17 points in the frame. Now ahead by double digits to start the fourth, the Celtics continued to buckle down on both ends following the slow start and coasted to a sixth straight victory.

“I think Tatum became more aggressive when he reentered the game [midway through the second quarter] and to start the third,” said Hornets Head Coach Steve Clifford. “I think they picked up their defensive intensity in the third. We struggled to guard them. We were up because we were scoring at a really high clip, which is going to be hard to do against them for the whole game. We were never able to guard them for any sustained period of time.”

Boston and its second-ranked offense outscored Charlotte in the second half, 60-40, and converted 19 of a whopping 53 3-point attempts (35.8%), 31 of which came in the opening two quarters. Counting the 52 they hoisted up on Nov. 28, the Celtics have now accounted for each of the two highest single-game 3-point attempt totals by a Charlotte opponent this season.

Two of the most treacherous areas for the Hornets two nights ago in Toronto were turnovers and fouls, both of which were much improved in this one (11 of each). Although Charlotte started off 4-of-7 from 3-point range, the squad couldn’t keep up with the Celtics in this area and finished just 8-of-27 overall (29.6%).  

Added Clifford, “(The struggles are) not effort based at all. When you don’t score, sometimes it can look bad. Obviously, we don’t have a lot of room for error, so we miss a couple shots, [the Celtics] make a couple threes. They’re terrific. They’re good enough to win [the Finals]. They can score in bunches. There’s a reason they’re top-eight in both offense and defense. You can’t have a bad three-and-a half, four minutes. That makes it hard.”

Tatum (33) and Malcolm Brogdon (season-high 30) both had 30-point games for Boston, which notched its 10^th win in the last 12 head-to-head meetings with the Hornets. Seeing a bump in playing time with Jaylen Brown out and Derrick White (neck sprain) exiting the game early, Brogdon’s output was the highest point total by a reserve against Charlotte this season.

The Hornets will actually square off against the Celtics again for an MLK Day matinee affair on Monday, Jan. 16 starting at 1 PM ET. Catch the action on Bally Sports Southeast and WFNZ FM 92.7.