The Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 93-86 in the final game of the regular season. Payton Pritchard led the team with 34 points. The Celtics were resting many key players for the playoffs. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford were out. With this win, the Boston Celtics finished the season with a 61-21 record. Charlotte finishes 19-63.
The Boston Celtics Hot Start
The Boston Celtics had defeated Charlotte in their three previous meetings. Pritchard got off to a hot start, scoring Boston’s first five points. This gave them an early 8-3 lead. A block and a rare jump shot from Luke Kornet gave them more spark on a 12-2 run. This run helped them extend the lead to double digits. Sam Hauser drained a few three-pointers and the 12-2 run became a 24-2 run. The Hornets went six minutes without scoring and the deficit grew. Boston’s newly signed JD Davison scored, and Hauser was on fire from beyond the arc. At the end of the first quarter, the Boston Celtics led 33-15. Hauser had 12 points on four three-pointers.
The Boston Celtics extended the lead to 20 points in the second quarter. Pritchard continued to score, but a few buckets from Josh Okogie helped trim the lead. After a one-sided first quarter, the second was far more back and forth. Both teams traded buckets without much to play for. But there were still highlight plays, as Miles Norris got a block that led to a Pritchard-to-Kornet alley-oop. Charlotte brought the deficit down to 11 as the Celtics shooting cooled down. Wendell Moore Jr. tipped in a basket at the buzzer, giving the Hornets some momentum going into the half. At halftime, the Boston Celtics led 54-43.
At halftime, Pritchard led the Boston Celtics with 18 points. With their starters out, Pritchard was the top scoring option and took advantage of the opportunity. So did other Celtics players. Hauser had 12 points, Kornet had 8, and Jordan Walsh had 7 off the bench. Okogie had 11 points for the Hornets. Jusuf Nurkic had 9. They got off to a rough start with poor shooting in the first quarter but turned it around in the second. They brought a 21-point deficit down to 11, setting up for a potentially competitive second half.
A Close Finish
In the third quarter, the Hornets cut the lead to single digits. After only making two three-pointers in the first half, they made three to start the second. Charlotte opened the third quarter with a 13-3 run. This all but evaporated the Boston Celtics’ lead which was once 21 points. As the game went on the lack of offensive creation without the starters became more apparent. A Jaylen Sims three-pointer made it a one-point game and a Moussa Diabate dunk gave them the lead. The Celtics took the lead back towards the end of the quarter, but any bit of momentum was gone. Through three quarters, the Boston Celtics led 69-68.
After a rough offensive showing in the third quarter, the Boston Celtics scored five quick points to start the fourth. This gave them a small cushion, but it did not last, as the Hornets brought it back to a two-point game. While Boston’s perimeter shooting went ice cold, Charlotte’s caught fire. When Davison finally knocked one down, it was followed by a Nurkic three. With four minutes to go, the Celtics held an 86-83 lead.
The Hornets tied the game at 86 with two minutes left. A Davison bucket put them back ahead and a Walsh three gave them a five-point lead. Then, things delved into chaos. After a scramble for the ball, the Celtics forced a turnover, and after missing a shot on the other end, there was another mad scramble. Charlotte came away with the loose ball, but as they tried to push the pace, Walsh stole a pass, and they were forced to foul. The Boston Celtics held on from there, securing a 93-86 win.
Final Thoughts
The Boston Celtics improved to 61-21 to finish the regular season. Pritchard led with 34 points. Hauser had 15, Kornet had 11, and Walsh had 10. With the loss, the Hornets will end their season with a 19-63 record. Nurkic and Okogie each scored 14 points. Now that the regular season is over, these teams will be heading in opposite directions. The Celtics will prepare for the playoffs while Charlotte heads into the offseason.
