Derrick White dominates as Celtics fend off late Hornets surge for 127-116 win

The Boston Celtics took down the Charlotte Hornets on Friday evening, incomes a wire-to-wire victory that led to a closing rating of 127-116. Regardless of a slight scare within the second half, Boston’s three-point capturing carried them to a win.

With Jaylen Brown, Marcus Good, and Al Horford sidelined, the Celtics wanted guys aside from Jayson Tatum to step up. Derrick White did simply that.

White dominated the primary half. The purpose guard put up 26 factors on 9-of-11 capturing from the ground and 7-of-9 capturing from distance. He nailed his first eight pictures of the evening, together with his first six three-pointers. White trailed solely Tatum (41 factors) within the scoring column towards Charlotte, as he dropped a career-high 33 factors to go together with 10 assists. He additionally tied the Celtics report for many threes within the first half with seven.

Boston was red-hot from three-point vary towards the Hornets, ending the evening capturing 25-for-55 from deep. White’s eight made threes led the way in which, however Boston’s bench stepped up in that space as effectively, with 4 totally different gamers nailing a triple off the pine.

The Celtics’ three-point efforts had been additionally highlighted by large man Mike Muscala, although, who Boston acquired at this yr’s commerce deadline. He nailed his first three in a Celtics uniform with 1:49 left within the first quarter, which was met by a rousing ovation from TD Backyard. Muscala ended the evening with 12 factors on 4-of-8 capturing from behind the arc in his Celtics debut.

Sam Hauser additionally pitched in with 12 factors on 4-of-9 capturing from deep, incomes the second begin of his profession. The second-year ahead is now averaging 13.5 factors in two profession begins after incomes his first begin in Boston’s February 6 win over the Detroit Pistons.

For the Hornets, it was former Celtic Terry Rozier who stole the present, scoring 27 factors. He was aided by LaMelo Ball, who additionally poured in 24 factors to go together with 9 rebounds and 10 assists, whereas rookie heart Mark Williams had 11 factors and 12 boards in his first profession begin.

Charlotte mounted a comeback on the finish of the third quarter, slicing down a 28-point Celtics result in simply 13 factors in below 4 minutes of sport time. Turnovers had been an actual challenge for the Celtics, as they dedicated 15 over the course of the sport, together with seven within the third quarter alone.

However fortunately for Boston, their three-point MasterClass carried over into the ultimate body, as they had been capable of shut out the Hornets after a quick scare. Charlotte continued to be a thorn of their aspect, however the Celtics had been capable of fend them off for simply lengthy sufficient to choose up the win.

The Celtics will welcome the Memphis Grizzlies to TD Backyard on Monday afternoon for a matinee sport that may tip off at 2:00 p.m. Japanese time.