Celtics forward Jayson Tatum looks to drive against the Hornets' LaMelo Ball in the first half.
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum looks to drive against the Hornets' LaMelo Ball in the first half.Nell Redmond/Associated Press
CHARLOTTE — Perhaps it was message that he was indeed back, but whatever Jayson Tatum said to the thousands of Celtics fans that filled Spectrum Center on Sunday was filled with emotion.
After draining a 3-pointer in the face of Charlotte’s Miles Bridges that staved off a Hornets run, Tatum had words for the cheering crowd that watched his best performance since his return from a torn Achilles.
Tatum, looking aggressive, spry, and confident, poured in 32 points in just 31 minutes as the Celtics avenged a blowout home loss with a near wire-to-wire 114-99 win, their third straight in this difficult stretch.
It was also the fifth consecutive 50-win season for the Celtics, who were not projected to approach this total with Tatum missing most of the season. Boston emerged as one of the surprise teams in the NBA behind Jaylen Brown and a revamped bench and Tatum’s return has now turned them into a potential NBA Finals contender.
With Brown and Derrick White sitting out with injuries, Tatum seized the role as the primary scorer and flourished, making 12 of his 23 shots along with five 3-pointers. Payton Pritchard delivered his second consecutive strong scoring game with 28 points while Neemias Queta added 17.
Charlotte, which walloped the Celtics by 29 points earlier this month, couldn’t get untracked offensively and made just 12 of 43 3-pointers. It was the Hornets second home loss in two nights. LaMelo Ball led the club with 19 points on 7-for-19 shooting.
As the teams traded buckets in the third quarter, a roar came from the concourse of Spectrum Center, fans who had just witnessed the UConn miracle finish against Duke in the NCAA Elite Eight. Such a result would make Duke alum Tatum unhappy, but for now he was locked in on helping the Celtics get a key win, scoring the first two buckets of the second half as Boston led by as many as 20 in the third period.
Charlotte ended the period with a 12-6 run to keep within striking distance, but the Celtics maintained a 14-point lead with Tatum getting enough rest to begin the fourth quarter not approaching his minutes limit.
Tatum helped spark a 10-0 run to begin the second quarter and the Celtics began to take control, leading 37-21. Ron Harper Jr., getting quality minutes for the first time in two weeks, contributed 7 points in 10 minutes before leaving with a sprained ankle. Pritchard added a pair of buckets and Sam Hauser knocked down a 3-pointer for a 19-point lead.
The Hornets, who nailed 19 3-pointers in that first meeting, were 5 for 21 in the first half, including a combined 2 for 12 from Ball and Brandon Miller. Charlotte sliced the deficit to 12 late in the second quarter but Tatum responded with a layup and he finished with 20 points as the Celtics led 63-49 at the break.
The Celtics were looking to avenge their rather embarrassing March 4 home loss to the Hornets, where they were overwhelmed by Charlotte’s 3-point shooting and ball movement. It was a 29-point home loss, the largest of the season and the Celtics put that defeat in the back of their minds for the rematch.
The lineup would be dramatically different with Brown and White being scratched because of injuries, leaving Tatum as the primary scorer in his first game in his college state since his return.
And Tatum didn’t disappoint in the early going, scoring 9 points in the first seven minutes, including a punishing drive for a two-handed dunk and a 3-pointer. Tatum displayed the aggression and confidence that has not been as consistent since his injury.
Defensively, the Celtics were stifling, limiting Charlotte’s shooters, including Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel. The good news for the Celtics is they were able to manage the non-Tatum minutes behind the scoring of Pritchard and the defense of Jordan Walsh, making his first start since Jan. 1 at Sacramento.
Pritchard was also in the starting lineup and pestered the Hornets with his interior scoring along with his midrange jumpers.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.