Jayson Tatum Shares His Assessment of Celtics Collapse vs. Hornets

The Celtics blew a nine-point lead with two minutes left as the Hornets rallied to snap Boston's six-game win streak.

Monday night in the Queen City, the NBA's longest active win streak ended at six games.

At 11-3, the Boston Celtics still boast the league's best record. But they haven't played well in their last several contests. They finally got burned for it against the Charlotte Hornets, suffering a 121-118 overtime defeat.

"We've got to regroup," expressed Jayson Tatum after the loss, as captured by NBA.com. "We've won six or seven games in a row, and it may be easy to get complacent, and we paid for it tonight."

The four-time All-Star erupted for 23 points in the second quarter and generated 31 in the first 24 minutes, matching his first-half career high.

The former Duke Blue Devil, who loves to put on a show when he returns to North Carolina, seemed poise for another 50-point night in Charlotte. But in a development as surprising as his team's defeat, he scored only 14 points in the final 29 minutes.

The Celtics, collectively, produced only 22 points in the third frame and 21 in the fourth. They shot a frigid 34 percent from the field, including 6/23 (26.1 percent) from beyond the arc in the second half.

The hosts generated 20-second chance points, a 24-9 advantage in fast-break scoring, and the visitors committed 15 turnovers. Those three factors were crucial in shaping Monday's outcome.

"Getting back in transition, I kept getting back cut, we gave up some offensive rebounds, gave them second, third chance opportunities," stated Tatum.

Going to overtime at the end of a four-game road trip, only to come up short, was the last thing Boston wanted.

But after a faceplant that included going scoreless in the final two minutes of regulation, squandering a nine-point lead, and Jrue Holiday going 0/2 at the free-throw line with a chance to give the Celtics a four-point cushion with 10.1 seconds left, they must quickly regroup.

Perhaps this loss will help them shake off their poor play of late and refocus entering Wednesday's showdown against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Further Reading

Celtics Stumble in Charlotte as Hornets Snap Their Six-Game Win Streak

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 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