CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a thrilling match on Friday, Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to a victory over the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 32 points and securing 11 rebounds. Jaylen Brown also made a significant contribution with 25 points as the Celtics pulled away in the closing stages of the game, ultimately finishing with a score of 124-109. This contest was marked by heightened tension, culminating in the ejection of two players from the Hornets.
Derrick White supported the Celtics with 17 points, while Jrue Holiday added another 14 points to the team’s total. On the other side, LaMelo Ball shone for the Hornets with 31 points before fouling out, as the team continued to miss key players due to injuries, specifically Brandon Miller and Mark Williams.
The match became increasingly intense in the fourth quarter when Grant Williams was ejected for a flagrant foul 2 after colliding with Tatum near halfcourt. Shortly after, Ball drew a flagrant foul for an aggressive challenge on Tatum during a 3-point shot. The evening ended with Miles Bridges also being sent off in the final moments.
This game was particularly significant for Hornets’ head coach Charles Lee, who faced the Celtics, a team he helped win an NBA championship with as an assistant coach last season. Rookie Tidjane Salaun made his mark as well, contributing nine points, scoring three times from beyond the arc.
As the Celtics demonstrated their championship experience, they managed to keep their composure while the Hornets unraveled under pressure. Boston benefited from the fouls called against Charlotte, with the Hornets racking up 26 fouls compared to Boston’s 13.
A pivotal moment occurred when the Hornets narrowed the gap to six points; Jrue Holiday responded by sinking a critical 3-pointer from the left wing with 2:24 remaining, allowing the Celtics to regain some breathing space.
An impressive statistic for the Celtics was their success from the free-throw line, where they converted 29 of 35 attempts.
The two teams are set to face each other again on Saturday night on the same court.