The Charlotte Hornets hosted the Boston Celtics Sunday night at the Spectrum Center. The Hornets came into the game after having a 5-game win streak snapped by the Philadelphia 76ers last night. Boston recorded their 50th win of the season with a 114-99 win on the road in the final game of March. Tatum was unstoppable throughout the game with 32 points and 8 assists; Pritchard went into beast mode himself scoring 28 points for the visiting C’s.
Jaylen Brown was ruled out for the clash with a calf injury; Derrick White was also unavailable, and Nikola Vucevic was still sidelined with the finger injury. Boston started Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta, and Jordan Walsh. For the hometown Hornets, they started the game with LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and Moussa Diabate.
Kon Knueppel opened the scoring with his 257th three-pointer of the season. Tatum crossed over Brandon Miller and got the rack for a two-handed flush to get Boston on the board. Tatum then hit a turnaround jumper for Boston as he looked aggressive to start the game. Payton Pritchard had two long-range attempts bounce off the rim before finally hitting for his first shot of the game, as Boston took an early lead, 10-9, at the first timeout.
Tatum drove and scored for his sixth point of the game; he then followed that up splashing home his first trey of the game, Boston extending the early lead, up by 6 points. Ron Harper Jr. checked into the game as Tatum took his first rest of the contest. Queta scored his fourth point of the game, attacking the rim to lay it home. Pritchard dribbled into the key, drew defenders’ attention, and threw a tremendous lob to Queta as the Celtics were rolling.
Luka Garza and Hugo Gonzalez entered the game for Boston; Scheierman was also on the court as Hauser took a seat. Harper Jr. scored on a cutting layup as he broke free from his defender, Garza, with the heads-up assist from the high post. Harper Jr. scored again on a coast-to-coast layup, giving the C’s good early minutes from the bench.
Pritchard closed out the first quarter dribbling and drawing a foul by rookie Sion James; the guard hit a pair of free throws to give Boston a 6-point lead, 27-21, after 12 minutes of action.
Baylor Scheierman hit a deep three-pointer with the shot clock expiring for Boston to start the second quarter. Tatum came out strong to start the second, dribbling into a three for his twelfth point of the game over rookie Liam McNeely.
LaMelo Ball fouled Tatum up top, and the All-NBA forward went to the line for 3 shots. Tatum only converted 1 shot from the line, though, Boston up 37-21 after a transition triple by Harper Jr., Boston on a 16-2 run. Tatum was controlling play really well in the first half for Boston; he had 3 assists and was shooting 6-8 from the field with 7 minutes to go in the half.
With Tatum getting a breather, Pritchard drilled a pair of mid-range shots after getting to his spot; PP had 11 points and counting in the first half. Sam Hauser converted his second three of the game, Boston up by 17 points, 55-38.
Mar 29, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Boston Celtics forward/guard Jayson Tatum (0) completes a slam dunk as Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté (14) looks on during the first quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images
Mar 29, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Boston Celtics forward/guard Jayson Tatum (0) completes a slam dunk as Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté (14) looks on during the first quarter at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images
Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images
The tenth-placed Hornets have not seen the postseason in 9 years, and they would have an uphill battle in the second half. Jayson Tatum had 20 points after two quarters, Boston up 63-49 at the halftime break.
Queta scored a reverse layup off a neat Tatum assist to start the 2nd half. Tatum was orchestrating the Boston offense effectively, finding Pritchard for a fadeaway jumper first and then a reverse layup. The Celtics were 9 points to 4 at the start of the third quarter.
Jordan Walsh was a beast on the offensive glass to start the third, providing multiple second-chance opportunities for the road team. Tatum scored on a pull-up triple to flex to the crowd, his 23rd point and counting, Celtics up 77-55.
It was a vintage Jayson Tatum performance all night, but especially to start the third quarter. Tatum was getting whatever shots he wanted and was dishing out the assists. A Baylor Scheierman heat-check triple gave the C’s a twenty-point lead. Garza got in on the action rolling and scoring; Pritchard then danced into the lane for another mid-range swish. He had 22 points after three quarters, with JB and White watching on in street clothes.
Hugo Gonzalez hit a corner three off the Scheierman assist to start the fourth quarter. Baylor hit a three of his own on the very next play, Tatum with the seventh assist. Charlotte fought back into the game in the fourth, cutting the Boston lead to 9 points with a LaMelo Ball triple and plenty of time to go. Queta returned to the lineup for Boston and immediately scored 4 points on the interior on consecutive plays.
Queta blocked LaMelo Ball on his drive, but the ball went into the basket, both players tangling on the baseline. Tatum drove and scored with a nifty mini hook in the lane; a play later, he hit a straight-on triple over Bridges. JT is well and truly back to his old self, with 32 points.
Tatum would take a seat with 5 minutes to go in the game and watch on as Pritchard continued to get inside, he hit a strong play over Josh Green for his 26th point of the night. Charles Lee went to his deep bench with 3 minutes and change remaining. Both teams ended it with the reserves playing it out.
Boston next travel to Miami to face the Heat on Wednesday April 1st at 7:30pm.