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Kemba Walker returns; Charlotte Hornets fall to Boston Celtics

Walker, the Hornets' all-time leading scorer, tallied 14 points and six assists in his first game at the Spectrum Center as a visitor and led the Celtics to a win.
Mitchell Northam|
(Mitchell Northam / Hornet Maven - Sports Illustrated)

CHARLOTTE -- The crowd stood and cheered when he was introduced. When a tribute video of his highlights in the Queen City played, Kemba Walker fought back tears. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, he had won the fans over again as chants of "Let's go Celtics" were loud and clear.

He didn't have his best game, but Thursday at the Spectrum Center was Kemba Night. The Hornets' all-time leading scorer tallied 14 points, six assists, two rebounds and a steal in his return to Charlotte, helping his Boston Celtics capture a 108-87 victory in front of an announced crowd of 18,487 fans -- many of whom were wearing Celtic green.

"It was amazing. Just a great feeling to know that they still have love for me even though I left," Walker said of the fans. "It was special just to be back here and the amount of love that I've been getting throughout this day... The video topped it off. It was special and it definitely, obviously, made me really emotional. I was trying to hold it in, but I couldn't."

For the Hornets, Miles Bridges notched the second double-double of his career with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He also had an assist and a blocked shot, but his efforts were not enough to lead the Hornets (4-4) to their fourth straight victory.

Off the bench, Devonte' Graham turned in another valiant effort, racking up 15 points, a team-high nine assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Against his former team, Terry Rozier didn't have the same luck Walker had. In 26 minutes of play, Rozier scored just three points on 11 shot attempts. He also had two assists, but when juxtaposed against his four turnovers, it was clear that Rozier struggled. Still, Hornets' head coach James Borrego was impressed with Rozier's effort.

"He played hard," Borrego said. "He tried to play the game the right way but shots weren't falling. He competed tonight and he just has to stick with it."

Indeed, much of the Hornets' shooters couldn't find the bottom of the net. Charlotte shot just 19.4 percent from three-point range on 31 attempts, which was their second worst clip of the season. Rookie sensation P.J. Washington didn't have his top game either, finishing with four points on eight shot attempts and eight rebounds in 27 minutes. Playing with a nagging lower left leg contusion though, Washington did bring energy on defense, blocking five shots.

"We didn't move the ball like we have been the last few games, getting out in transition," Bridges said. "(The Celtics) switched everything so that kind of threw us off a little bit. We should have moved the ball more."

Added Borrego: "You have to give (the Celtics) credit. A lot of it was their defense. They're a very good defensive team. We turned it over 21 times and we didn't make shots so you have to give them credit."

The Hornets will look to get back over the .500 mark Saturday when they host the Zion-less New Orleans Pelicans.

Highlights

Notes

  • Gordon Hayward scored nine of the Celtics' first 20 points. He finished the day with 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and a steal in 29 minutes.
  • Jayson Tatum led the Celtics in scoring with 23 points.
  • With 10 boards, Cody Zeller had double-digit rebounds for the fifth time this season.
  • Aside from putting Robert Williams on a poster, second-round draft pick Cody Martin had another impressive outing with seven points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 16 minutes.
  • Charlotte native Grant Williams did not score in his return to the Queen City, but the rookie had two rebounds, three assists and a steal in 15 minutes. He was the first Celtic off the bench.
  • The Hornets blocked a season-high nine shots.
  • Charlotte's bench outscored Boston's 49-34.
  • The Hornets started 5-of-15 from the field.
  • For the seventh time this season, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist did not play for the Hornets, marked as "DNP - Coach's Decision."

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Mitchell Northam
MITCHELL NORTHAM

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