ยฉ Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser Combine for 50 Points as Celtics Cruise Past Hornets to Cap Road Trip
Monday night's matchup in the Queen City was a matter of staying the course for the Boston Celtics.
The visitors consistently created quality looks in the first frame but struggled to find the mark. They shot 43.5 percent, including 6/17 (35.3 percent) from beyond the arc.
Conversely, the Charlotte Hornets drilled 4/6 attempts from three-point range and scored 16 points in the paint and seven on the fast break.
But after the hosts took a 32-30 lead into the second quarter, Boston locked in defensively, limiting Charlotte to 21 points on 40 percent shooting. That included missing the eight threes the Hornets hoisted.
At the other end of the floor, effective screens and movement with and without the ball produced quality possessions that translated to the Celtics faring 4/10 from beyond the arc.
Those triples included Derrick White making his 185th of the season, triggering a $500 thousand contract bonus.
After taking a 59-53 edge into intermission, the C's were at their best in the third frame, limiting the hosts to 26 points, parlaying formidable first-shot defense with an effort on the glass that kept Charlotte from grabbing any offensive rebounds.
The ability to consistently get stops made it easier to play with pace and create quality, in-rhythm looks on offense. That translated to attacking downhill to manufacture 18 points in the paint, effective ball movement, assisting on 8/13 field goals, and drilling 4/9 threes (44.4 percent).
Kristaps Porzingis, playing with force and energy, led all scorers with 11 points in the period, including going 4/4 at the free-throw line. Jayson Tatum finished above the rim with force, had a smooth reverse layup, and knocked down a three for seven of his 25 points before getting most of the fourth quarter off.
Sam Hauser, who did an excellent job of getting open throughout the night, came off the bench to match Tatum's total for the third frame. He also drilled 7/11 threes and tied him for a team-high 25 points for the evening.
And while the hosts outscored Boston 25-23 in the final 12 minutes, they never threatened to regain the lead, as the C's held them at bay, kept the minutes low for most of their starters, and applied the finishing touches on a 118-104 win to cap their six-game road trip.
That included a possession that exemplified the control they had over the game, especially in the second half, as the visitors grabbed three offensive rebounds off of misses from behind the arc before White got into the paint, then elevated for a floater off two feet, extending the lead to 15 just over halfway through the final frame.
The Celtics are now onto a Wednesday night matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently sit atop the Western Conference standings. That game will tip off at 7:30 EST at TD Garden.
Further Reading
Celtics Dialed in Defensively in Double-Digit Win Over Pelicans
Jaylen Brown Shares What's Fueling Career Year: 'Nothing in This World Gonna Break My Spirit'
Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent
Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented
Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'
Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot
Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans
Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'
Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'
