Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Celtics Stumble in Charlotte as Hornets Snap Their Six-Game Win Streak
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said after Sunday's 102-100 victory vs. the Memphis Grizzlies that his team didn't deserve to win that game.
Monday, they turned in their worst performance of the season.
The Celtics were without Al Horford and Derrick White, playing on the second night of a back-to-back and at the end of a four-game road trip. None of that represents a valid excuse for what unfolded in this matchup.
The Charlotte Hornets entered this matchup 3-9. Jayson Tatum erupted for 31 points in the first 24 minutes, tying his first-half career high. It looked like he was en route to another 50-point performance in the Queen City. He finished with 45 but scored only 14 points in the final 29 minutes.
And despite being ice cold in the final two frames, putting only 22 points on the board in the third quarter and 21 in the fourth, Boston held a nine-point lead with two minutes left.
From there, the visitors went scoreless, including Jrue Holiday missing two straight free throws with his team up two with 10.1 seconds remaining.
LaMelo Ball, who was exceptional on Monday, including playing some of the best defense of his career, then got to the rim against minimal resistance for two of his team-high 36 points.
The Celtics then blew a two-point edge with less than a minute left in overtime of their 121-118 loss. After six straight victories, the defeat snaps the longest active win streak in the NBA.
Another foundational member of the Hornets' young core, Mark Williams, was also at the root of their rally. The former Duke Blue Devil registered 18 points and 16 rebounds, including eight at the offensive end, and he had three blocks.
Williams was at the root of Charlotte's generating 20 second-chance points. That, a 24-9 advantage in fast-break scoring, and 15 Boston turnovers were decisive factors in shaping the outcome.
And while the Celtics matched the hosts in second-chance points, they also shot a frigid 34 percent in the second half and 33.3 percent in the extra period.
Outside of Tatum and Payton Pritchard, the latter of whom came off the bench and registered 21 points, making 5/8 threes, the visitors struggled to find their rhythm.
It also hurt that Jaylen Brown was practically invisible on Monday night, finishing with 13 points on 17 shots and missing all five attempts he hoisted from behind the arc.
While Boston entered this matchup boasting the league's best record at 11-2, it hadn't played well for significant stretches of its last several games. It was surprising to see this be the game the Celtics got burned, but it felt inevitable if they didn't tighten up.
Perhaps this will provide added fuel entering Wednesday's showdown against the Milwaukee Bucks.
But before turning one's attention to that matchup, here's what stood out on Monday, featuring many takeaways worth filing away for Wednesday.
1. With Derrick White out due to personal reasons, Sam Hauser got his second start this season. And with Monday's matchup representing the second half of a back-to-back for the Celtics, Al Horford (rest) was also unavailable.
That resulted in Jordan Walsh and JD Davison getting called up from Maine. If White's absence extends beyond the game in Charlotte, at least one of those two may remain with the parent club.
2. Boston got off to a sloppy start, committing six turnovers in the opening frame. That included three less than four minutes into the matchup. The visitors were fortunate that it only led to five points at the other end.
3. The C's still entered the second quarter with a 31-25 advantage. That had a lot to do with Payton Pritchard coming off the bench to bury all four threes he hoisted. The former Oregon Duck led all scorers with 12 points in the first 12 minutes.
4. Jayson Tatum took over from there, generating 11 second-period points by the 7:50 mark. That included knocking down a pair of threes and showing Miles Bridges his improved post-up game.
5. A first-half play that deserves highlighting unfolded when the Celtics got a stop defensively; Tatum grabbed the miss and quickly got the ball ahead to Pritchard. The latter then moved it forward to Oshae Brissett, who drove to the basket before making the unselfish decision to dish to Luke Kornet for the flush.
6. Good shots not going down and a couple more turnovers fueled an up-tempo response by the Hornets, who staged a 17-5 run in just under four minutes, pulling within six, 58-52, late in the second frame.
7. But with Tatum erupting for 23 points on 7/11 shooting, including 4/8 from beyond the arc, and making 5/6 free throws in the second quarter, giving him 31 in 24 minutes, matching his career high in a first half, Boston took a 65-54 lead into the break.
The four-time All-Star also grabbed nine rebounds, pacing all participants in that category too. And his four assists tied Bridges for the most at the half.
8. Charlotte opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run.
It's the second night of a back-to-back for the Celtics and the end of a long road trip. But starting the second half slow is a years-long trend that's continued to begin this season.
A strong performance in the third period on Monday represented a chance to earn extra rest before hosting the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Instead, the hosts cut their deficit as low as two, 73-71, before entering the last 12 minutes trailing 87-81.
9. Pritchard repeatedly came up big for Boston in the final frame. With the offense struggling to put points on the board, he drilled a needed three out of a timeout, putting the visitors up 90-85 with 9:49 remaining.
He also delivered a skip pass on the money while under pressure, finding Svi Mykhailiuk in the far-side corner for a three. And he showed off his handles before going into Bryce Mcgowens' chest to create separation for a layup.
10. A 7-0 run by the hosts in the final two minutes got them within two, 108-106, with 30 seconds left. And at the other end of the court, Jrue Holiday missed both free throws, giving Charlotte a chance to tie or take the lead with 10.3 seconds on the game clock.
LaMelo Ball capitalized on the opportunity, driving to the rim against minimal resistance for a bucket that gave him 32 points and forced overtime.
11. The last thing the Celtics wanted at the end of a four-game road trip two nights before playing the Bucks was playing an extra period. But they brought this on themselves with an atrocious second half, including fumbling the bag after doing enough to put away this contest.
They got outscored 54-43 in the second half. They only produced 22 points in the third quarter and had 21 in the fourth. They shot 34 percent from the field, including 6/23 (26.1 percent) from beyond the arc.
12. Fittingly, the end of overtime was chaotic.
Holiday earned a Tommy Point, sprinting from the left wing to extend a Boston possession, leading to a Tatum three to put his team up 116-114 with 57.1 seconds to go.
But after Gordon Hayward tied the game, Bridges buried a three over Holiday, putting the Hornets ahead 119-116 with 6.1 seconds remaining.
Hayward inexplicably fouled Tatum while shooting a three, attempting to extend the contest, but the former Duke Blue Devil went 2/3 at the line.
The visitors had one final chance to tie the score, but Bridges picked off Holiday's cross-court inbounds pass, sealing a come-from-behind victory for the hosts.
13. Next, the Celtics welcome the Bucks to TD Garden on Wednesday night. That game will tip off at 7:30 EST.
Further Reading
Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Survive vs. Shorthanded Grizzlies
Kristaps Porzingis Explains Why Celtics Have NBA's Best Clutch Record
Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Weather the Storm to Prevail vs. Raptors
Jaylen Brown Blasts In-Season Tournament Court After Injury in Celtics’ Win vs. Raptors
Celtics Discuss Significance of Rivalry Win vs. 76ers for No. 1 Seed in East
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Keys to Celtics Second-Half Turnaround in Win Over 76ers
Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Beat 76ers in Their Best Win of Young Season
Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'
Kristaps Porzingis Discusses Chemistry with Jaylen Brown: 'I Love Playing with Him'
Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
