Despite some tense moments during their Friday night game, there was plenty of camaraderie between the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets after the final buzzer.
The teams will meet again on Saturday night for a rematch, also held in Charlotte.
Many Celtics players know Hornets coach Charles Lee well, as he was a Boston assistant coach last season when the team captured the NBA title. Jayson Tatum led the way for Boston with 32 points and 11 rebounds in their 124-109 win on Friday. After the game, Lee exchanged hugs with several Celtics players.
It’s back-to-back nights for the Hornets as they look to break through against the Celtics. Charlotte’s Grant Williams and Miles Bridges were both ejected on Friday, and LaMelo Ball was whistled for a flagrant foul. Williams’ foul on Tatum had the potential to escalate further.
There were still lingering tensions, especially as Williams previously played for Boston from 2019-20 to 2022-23. Lee’s close connection with Celtics coach Mazzulla likely helped prevent larger issues. The Celtics bounced back from their first loss of the season with a win in Charlotte, outscoring the Hornets 24-10 in the final 7.5 minutes, with 15 of those points coming from free throws.
Lee was assessed a fourth-quarter technical foul after complaining about a no-call on Tre Mann. The Hornets’ frustration was evident, as they attempted only 12 free throws out of the 47 taken in the game.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Mazzulla received a technical foul with the Celtics holding a one-point lead.
The Hornets were pleased with Ball’s performance, as he scored 31 points in 31 minutes before fouling out. His four turnovers weren’t a significant issue, but he only managed four assists. Charlotte will be interested in seeing more from 19-year-old rookie Tidjane Salaun, who scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.
The Celtics will need to focus on their perimeter defense after allowing 19 three-pointers, with six Charlotte players hitting two or more treys. Saturday’s rematch should be an exciting follow-up to Friday’s game.
