Celtics Avoid Getting Stung by Hornets in the First Night of a B2B
The Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets in a contest that ended 124-109, the first night of a B2B between the C’s and Hornets. The Celtics got back to playing Celtics basketball, playing great defense, moving the ball around, finding open shots, and knocking them down. But the Hornets didn’t go away without a fight. Lamelo Ball and Tre Mann did all they could to try and play spoiler to the defending champs. Ball scored 31 points on 48% shooting, and Mann came off the bench, scoring 23 points on 55.6% shooting. As well, Charlotte, as a team, was letting it fly from deep shooting 19/46 from beyond the arc, which is just below the 40% mark.
The Celtics were lead by the Jays, combining for 57 points. JT scored the majority of the 57 with his 32, and JB brought 25 to the table as well. But clutch scoring from Derrick White and Jrue Holiday were what helped push the Celtics over the edge. And Neemias Queta had one of his best games of his career last night, scoring 12 points, going 6/6 from the field, and also bringing 6 rebounds. Queta has an infectious energy and helps get the best out of his teammates that are on the court with him. Queta has done great so far this season, and has been a great rim protector for the Celtics in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis. He is great on the offensive glass, and is an overall spark plug. If he is able to work on his catching ability on dump off passes, and also his defense rotations, he and Luke Kornet could definitley start splitting more minutes in the backup 5 role.
But the big story line of the game is at the end of the game. While the Celtics were out running in transition, Grant Williams ran full speed from behind and throws his body at Jayson Tatum, eliciting a Flagrant 2 called on him, causing him to be ejected from the game. Williams said pre game that he “was hoping to have them over” after the game. Charles Lee was also given a technical, for a reason I am still unsure of. And Miles Bridges was even given a double tech, and thrown out of the game!
The Hornets gave the game away with their lack of foul management, and allowed the Celtics to take over. And with the tensions rising, it is going to setup a very interesting game tonight between the two teams, again in Charlotte.
