Spectrum Center | Carolina Hornets
Spectrum Center | Carolina Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets faced a challenging game against the Boston Celtics, resulting in a 124-109 loss at Spectrum Center. Despite being close to the reigning NBA champions midway through the fourth quarter, the Hornets' emotions led to their downfall.
LaMelo Ball was a standout performer for the Hornets, scoring 31 points, including 12 in the second quarter. He made five three-pointers and contributed four assists before fouling out after 31 minutes of play. This performance marked his 27th career game with over 30 points, surpassing Gerald Wallace for fourth place in franchise history. Tre Mann also impressed off the bench with 23 points and five assists.
The turning point came when Charlotte narrowed the gap to 102-99 with seven and a half minutes remaining. However, Boston capitalized on numerous fouls committed by the Hornets during their game-ending 22-10 run. The Celtics were awarded several free throws due to these fouls, making 17-of-23 attempts in the fourth quarter alone.
Charlotte struggled with free throws, hitting only six out of twelve attempts throughout the game and missing all three in the final quarter. Three Hornets players were ejected in the last two minutes, highlighting discipline issues that need addressing.
Despite these challenges, Charlotte's three-point shooting remained strong. After Nick Richards left due to shoulder soreness, they adopted a smaller lineup and came close to achieving consecutive games with over twenty three-pointers.
Tidjane Salaün showed promise with nine points from three successful shots beyond the arc and six rebounds in seventeen minutes off the bench. His defensive efforts were notable as well.
Hornets Head Coach Charles Lee commented on the game: “Tonight was another great learning experience... We really just want them to focus on what you can control.”
The teams will meet again at Spectrum Center tomorrow night for another matchup at 6 PM ET. Last season, Boston excelled in back-to-back games while Charlotte struggled under similar circumstances.
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