The Boston Celtics handed the Charlotte Hornets their first loss of the new season with a 14-0 run in overtime. At the end of an entertaining game, Dennis Schröder delivers important plays in overtime, but Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum make the headlines.
Charlotte Hornets (3-1) – Boston Celtics (2-2) 129:140 OT (BOXSCORE)
With his scoring, Tatum was the decisive figure for the guests for a long time, he ended the game with 41 points (14/28 FG), 8 assists and 7 rebounds. But in overtime Brown and Schröder were there, the German scored 9 of his 23 points in overtime (6/14 FG, plus 8 assists and 6 rebounds), Brown brought the Celtics up with a three-pointer followed by a monster dunk the road to victory. In total he had 30 points (12/20 FG).
In the Hornets, LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges put on a show with 25 points each and some nice highlights. Bridges knocked the fans out of their seats with his dunks, Ball sank 7/14 threes (but 0/5 from twos) and dished out 9 assists. In overtime, however, he committed his sixth foul and had to leave the court early. Kelly Oubre Jr. still scored 19 points, but tried in vain to carry the team offensively in the OT.
The night before, Brown was given a break once morest the Rockets due to knee problems, but now he’s back. Al Horford (adductors) had to pass and so Schröder remained in the starting five. Terry Rozier (ankle) and PJ Washington (knee) were missing for the Hornets. But that didn’t stop the hosts from setting off an early three-way firework.
Charlotte started 4/5 from distance, including two triples by ball. At the other end, Schröder held back with good offense and 8 points in the early minutes, but Boston quickly fell behind once morest the excellent Hornets shooting (25:14). Alongside DS17, Jabari Parker became a key weapon off the bench, the veteran hotting up immediately following coming on and putting Boston back in the game with 11 points (13 overall).
Celtics and Hornets deliver entertaining highlight show
His third three equalized the score at 33:33 towards the end of the first quarter, following which the two teams exchanged entertaining blows inklusive Bridges-Highlight-Dunks, LaMelo threes and an irresistible scoring Tatum (17 in the second quarter). However, neither side might gain a real advantage, Boston went into the half-time break with 68:66.
In the third quarter, the Hornets tried hard to live up to their reputation as League Pass favorites. LaMelo first passed Smart in a stepback three-pointer, then served Hayward with it a casual full-court pass. Although unimpressed, Boston rattled off a 17:6 run, but Charlotte didn’t let herself be disturbed either. The bench brought the Hornets back and by the end of the third round they were ahead 97:94.
Schroeder and Brown lead Celtics to victory in overtime
Things got wild once more in the final section: the hosts pulled away by 12 points before Boston stormed back. With the score level even, it was into the final minute, in which both the Hornets and the Celts messed up their last play and mightn’t get any more shots – overtime!
There, LaMelo put his suits in front with his seventh three of the game, but Schröder also responded from downtown. In the next attack he served Brown in the corner and shortly followingwards the latter got it to a poster dunk in transition over bridges.
The Celtics were now up +5, and nothing came together for Charlotte. Schröder convinced on the one hand with good defensive actions, on the other hand with his sure hand from the line. He made everything clear with 4 converted free throws, Boston ultimately ended the game with a 14-0 run and ended the Hornets’ winning streak following three games.
