Hornets
Celtics turn 29 Hornets turnovers into 27 points, roll past Charlotte 114-93
The Celtics beat the Hornets 114-93 at TD Garden in a preseason game, pulling away with a 29-16 fourth quarter after Charlotte clawed within single digits in the third. Boston built its lead on 56 paint points and 27 points off 29 Hornets turnovers, while a 59-45 bench edge sealed it. Preseason result, so no standings impact, but the margin points to Boston's depth and Charlotte's turnover problem.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 4 d ago01The story of the nightBoston's bench quarter breaks it openBoston led 28-20 after one and 54-44 at the half, a cushion built mostly at the arc on 11-of-39 shooting overall but…
Boston led 28-20 after one and 54-44 at the half, a cushion built mostly at the arc on 11-of-39 shooting overall but enough free-throw and paint work to stay ahead. Charlotte answered with a 33-point third quarter, its best of the night, cutting the deficit to 85-77 by the end of the period. But Boston's bench took over in the fourth, outscoring Charlotte 29-16 to close it out, stretching the final gap to 21 and hitting a game-high lead of 23.
02Tatum leads, but reserves decide itJayson Tatum paced Boston with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in 29.3 minutes, and Derrick White added 17 on…
Jayson Tatum paced Boston with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in 29.3 minutes, and Derrick White added 17 on 6-of-9 shooting with 4 steals. The difference came off the bench: Neemias Queta scored 16 on 7-of-11 shooting and Luka Garza added 14 on 5-of-8, with Payton Pritchard handing out 11 assists. For Charlotte, Tidjane Salaun led with 16 points off the bench, Brandon Miller added 16 but shot just 4-of-17, and Royce O'Neale was efficient with 12 on 4-of-4 shooting, including 4-of-4 from three.
03Won in the paint and off turnoversBoston dominated the interior, outscoring Charlotte 56-20 in the paint, and turned defense into offense all night,…
Boston dominated the interior, outscoring Charlotte 56-20 in the paint, and turned defense into offense all night, forcing 29 Hornets turnovers while committing only 10 of its own. Those turnovers led directly to 27 Celtics points, against just 12 for Charlotte. Boston also won the bench battle 59-45 and out-rebounded Charlotte's 55 boards efficiently enough to matter, while Charlotte's only real advantage was three-point volume, going 16-of-42 compared to Boston's 11-of-39.
04What it means for each teamFor Boston, the mix of Tatum and White with a scoring bench led by Queta and Garza is an encouraging preseason look,…
For Boston, the mix of Tatum and White with a scoring bench led by Queta and Garza is an encouraging preseason look, and the 16 team steals and 10 turnovers show a defense clicking early. For Charlotte, 29 turnovers and 41.3% shooting are the bigger story than the third-quarter rally; Miller's 4-of-17 night and the bench's inability to match Boston's 59 points leave scoring consistency as the clear question entering the rest of the preseason.
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