All the excitement, energy and hype of Friday in Boston was long gone on Saturday in Charlotte. At least in the first half. But the second half brought back the intensity of the Warriors game, and this time the Celtics got the huge win, 98-93.
Obviously, it was a great bounce back effort after a bitter loss, but then again the Celtics always manage to win road games on the second night of a back-to-back. This was their 10th straight in that situation dating back to last season. Meanwhile, Charlotte had a four-game winning streak broken.
The key sequence was with 1:08 left in the game and Boston ahead by one. Amir Johnson blocked a layup by Kemba Walker, then Isaiah Thomas drew a foul on the other end and hit both free throws, Celts by three. After Walker hit a jumper, Charlotte trapped IT and fouled and/or tied him up. The refs called neither. Jae Crowder ended up with the ball and was fouled hard. He made both for a three-point lead, and when Nicolas Batum airballed a very deep three, Boston finished off the win.
Avery Bradley was the high scorer with 23 points on 9-17 shooting, including 4-6 on threes. Thomas tallied 21 on 8-16 and 2-5, plus a career-high 13 assists. Crowder added 16 points. Walker led the Hornets with 21 points.
Since the Hornets had also played on Friday night, both teams looked fatigued during the first quarter. It took four and a half minutes for Charlotte to score, but Boston couldn’t capitalize. The period ended with the Hornets ahead, 17-16. The second quarter was no better, with Charlotte ahead at the break, 42-38. No one was in double figures for either side.
The Celts found their shooting stroke in the third quarter and took a 12-point lead, only to see the Hornets close with a 10-2 run that made the score 73-69, Boston, heading to the fourth.
The Green:
In the third quarter, the Celts scored 35 points on 13-23 shooting, including 7-10 threes.
Johnson was +22 and Crowder +20.
Boston held Charlotte to zero fast break points.
The Gross:
Forgettable first quarter saw Cs shoot 7-27 (25.9%) and only 1-7 on threes, while Charlotte was 7-21 (33.3%) and 3-11 from deep.
Halftime stats no better: Celtics 18-51 (35.3%) and 1-10 on threes; Hornets 16-42 (38.1%) and 6-20 on threes.
Both IT and Walker were hit with technical fouls for complaining about no-calls.
The Greenlights:
This made Tommy happy.
Sully hook. https://t.co/T3cMF9S0Lx
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) December 13, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsRefs made no one happy.
Brad: What the hell! https://t.co/LRRYD7vNmj
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) December 13, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Grid:
- Hornets average league-low 12.5 turnovers per game. Celts average league-best 18.7 TOs forced per game. Charlotte finished with 11 turnovers.
- There were 14 lead changes and six ties.
- Frank Kaminsky scored three points, or .75 points per draft pick that Michael Jordan turned down for him.
- Shooting: Celtics 40-96 (41.7%), Hornets 36-88 (40.9%)
- 3-point Shooting: Celtics 9-25 (36%), Hornets 11-35 (31.4%)
- Points in the Paint: Celtics 42 (21/42), Hornets 28 (14/29)
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