The Boston Celtics took down the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night time, incomes a wire-to-wire victory that resulted in a closing rating of 127-116. Regardless of a slight scare within the second half, Boston’s three-point capturing carried them to a win.
With Jaylen Brown, Marcus Good, and Al Horford sidelined, the Celtics wanted guys apart from Jayson Tatum to step up. Derrick White did simply that.
White dominated the primary half. The purpose guard put up 26 factors on 9-of-11 capturing from the ground and 7-of-9 capturing from distance. He nailed his first eight photographs of the night time, together with his first six three-pointers. White trailed solely Tatum (41 factors) within the scoring column in opposition to Charlotte, as he dropped a career-high 33 factors to go together with 10 assists. He additionally tied the Celtics document for many threes within the first half with seven.
Boston was red-hot from three-point vary in opposition to the Hornets, ending the night time capturing 25-for-55 from deep. White’s eight made threes led the best way, however Boston’s bench stepped up in that space as properly, with 4 totally different gamers nailing a triple off the pine.
The Celtics’ three-point efforts have been additionally highlighted by massive man Mike Muscala, although, who Boston acquired at this yr’s commerce deadline. He nailed his first three in a Celtics uniform with 1:49 left within the first quarter, which was met by a rousing ovation from TD Backyard. Muscala ended the night time with 12 factors on 4-of-8 capturing from behind the arc in his Celtics debut.
Sam Hauser additionally pitched in with 12 factors on 4-of-9 capturing from deep, incomes the second begin of his profession. The second-year ahead is now averaging 13.5 factors in two profession begins after incomes his first begin in Boston’s February 6 win over the Detroit Pistons.
For the Hornets, it was former Celtic Terry Rozier who stole the present, scoring 27 factors. He was aided by LaMelo Ball, who additionally poured in 24 factors to go together with 9 rebounds and 10 assists, whereas rookie middle Mark Williams had 11 factors and 12 boards in his first profession begin.
Charlotte mounted a comeback on the finish of the third quarter, reducing down a 28-point Celtics result in simply 13 factors in below 4 minutes of sport time. Turnovers have been an actual challenge for the Celtics, as they dedicated 15 over the course of the sport, together with seven within the third quarter alone.
However fortunately for Boston, their three-point MasterClass carried over into the ultimate body, as they have been in a position to shut out the Hornets after a quick scare. Charlotte continued to be a thorn of their aspect, however the Celtics have been in a position to fend them off for simply lengthy sufficient to select up the win.
The Celtics will welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to TD Backyard on Monday afternoon for a matinee sport that may tip off at 2:00 p.m. Japanese time.
