2022-2023 POST GAME CHARLOTTE HORNETS - AWAY

Celtics Wrap: Jayson Tatum Drops 51 Points In MLK Day Win Over Hornets
Tatum scored 18 points in the fourth quarter as Boston pulled away


NESN by Ricky Doyle

The Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets on Monday tipped off the NBA’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate with a matinee showdown at Spectrum Center.

The Celtics seized control early, building a 66-55 halftime lead, but the Hornets stormed back in the second half, trimming their deficit to two points before Boston pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 130-118 victory in Charlotte.

The Celtics, who again were without Jaylen Brown, defeated the Hornets on Saturday night, as well, and now are riding a seven-game winning streak as they return home. The win improved Boston’s NBA-best record to 33-12.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Jayson Tatum decided enough was enough.

The Hornets, to their credit, scratched and clawed in the second half after the Celtics played a terrific first 24 minutes, particularly on the defensive end. But Tatum, as he’s done so often for Boston, stepped up in crunch time, sinking several key buckets as the C’s staved off the Hornets’ comeback bid.

Tatum scored 51 (!) points in the win, including 18 in the fourth quarter. He placed an exclamation point on the epic performance by knocking down a 3-pointer with 38 seconds remaining that sent fans into a frenzy.

The Celtics have found different ways to win games all season, whether it’s dominating from wire to wire, mounting impressive comebacks or holding off opponents down the stretch. But Tatum usually is at the heart of Boston’s effort, and Monday was no different in that regard for the MVP candidate.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Tatum drew “MVP” chants from the crowd in Charlotte mere minutes into Monday’s game, and the Celtics superstar made good on the acclaim by dropping 51 points. He went 15-for-23 from the field, including 7-for-12 from beyond the arc, and added nine rebounds and five assists.

Tatum went a perfect 14-for-14 from the free-throw line, as well, which speaks to his efficiency amid a dominant performance against the Hornets.

Tatum is the fourth player in NBA history to score 50+ points on MLK Day, joining Damian Lillard (61, 2020), Kemba Walker (52, 2016) and Gilbert Arenas (51, 2007). He’s also now the Celtics’ franchise record holder with five 50-point regular-season games, passing Larry Bird.

— Derrick White was in the starting lineup for Boston despite suffering a neck injury Saturday night that forced him from that contest. And he made it count, totaling 19 points, eight assists and three rebounds.

— Malcolm Brogdon was his usual solid self off the bench, chipping in 16 points in 27 minutes.

WAGER WATCH
Those who backed the Celtics as 8.5-point favorites needed to sweat this one out. But ultimately, Boston covered, with Tatum’s 3-pointer in the closing minute offering some breathing room.

The total was set at 230 for this afternoon affair, so the Over ended up cashing.

UP NEXT
The Celtics return home Thursday night for an NBA Finals rematch with the Golden State Warriors. Tipoff from TD Garden is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

After that, Boston will head north then south, first playing the Raptors in Toronto on Saturday before traveling to Florida for back-to-back games against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat next week.

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A weird schedule. Two games, same team, same arena, a day off. I like this a lot better than b2bs in different cities.

I didn't watch it because my link sucked (for the money I'm paying for this hotel you'd think the internet would be gig speed, but this is Malaysian Penang and not Singapore or Bangkok) and because the game started at 2am my time. If we were playing the Nuggets or the Grizzlies, or even the Nets or the Bucks I might have just watched the boxscore change and post on the Game On! thread but the 11-win Hornets? Good night, sweet Charlotte.

I left the game after 1, and Tatum had 11 points on 4-7. A nice start. At halftime he was up to 20, so a good first half, slightly cooler in the 2nd quarter than the 1st. 33 points after 3, a 13 point quarter on 4-6 shooting is heating up but 18 points on 5-7 shooting and 4-5 from 3 and 4-4 from the line in the 4th?! I wish I could have watched the looks on the Hornet players' faces when they realized they couldn't stop him. Poor Steve Clifford. Tatum is now averaging north of 30ppg this season.




I see from this highlight film that the score was 103-101 with 8:12 left in the 4th. I'm glad I wasn't watching our double digit lead go down to a single bucket, I'd be losing it, but we went on a 27-13 run in those final 8+ minutes. With 5:23 left Mike Gorman said that Jayson had 35 points. That'd give him a 16 point run, to get him up to his final 51, in less than 5 1/2 minutes.

The Grizzlies just beat Phoenix by 30. The Nuggets and Grizz have 13 losses, vs 12 for us, but we have two games "in hand". Next up for them the Nuggets host 21-22 Portland tomorrow and Memphis hosts the 28-17 Cavaliers. I have little hope for Portland, Denver is 19-3 at home, but Cleveland might upset Memphis.

Our next game is at home vs the 22-22 Dubs. I don't care what their record is to-date, they're playing the team they beat in the finals last year and, just like old, retired fire horses, when they hear the claxon they get excited to get into harness and run to the fire one last time. Will Jaylen be back? Might be a bit soon to expect that.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401468811


Bob


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Well Bob you sent me to a dictionary to look up claxon. Always good to learn a new word!

I'm trying to establish the significance and rarity of the following stat:

Team 50/40/90.

The Celtics last night vs. the Hornets as a team were 49.6/46.5/96. I'll give the round up on the FG%.

Now in a sample space of all the games yesterday (9 games x 2 teams and 8 games on Sunday x 2 teams) that's 34 teams posting. Only 3, Boston, GSW and the Pacers qualified with a push like above and the Pacers were the only one to hit all three vs. MIL @ 57.2/47.5/93.3.

Now when you hear of a Steph Curry averaging that for the whole season, that is indeed spectacular. An entire team hitting it for one game? That's pretty awesome as well even though it's an average and there's a range for each stat above and below the 3 benchmarks.

Anyway, Tatum went nuts! Good for him. Save some for Thursday. Brogden/White excellent. Our bench crushed CHA's bench again. CHA TO's were worth 3+ points each TO to us (18/5). Is that correct?

About Thursday. I know it's just another regular season game. But GSW got up for us coming into their house. We need to return the favor by applying Newton's 3rd Law of Motion to a "T". No half-assing it or barely winning. This needs to be our fully operational Death Star showing up with or without JB. 50/40/90. If we get swept by them, then we're going to need to start hoping if we do make it to the Finals, they're not there. That team doesn't mess around. Too much experience all the way through and they will beat us again, other things equal.

On to Thursday!

db

Lessons learned.  The Celtics are more prepared mentally to beat average to below average teams.  Hopefully this mind set will be with them throughout the rest of the season.

JT was  SPECTACULAR.  He now has more 50 point games than any Celtic in history.

The Celtics have won 7 in a row and 11 out of 13.  From what I can see the team looks more engaged defensively and on offense we are seeing the ball move and great spacing once again.

This team needs to play the right way when guys are not making shots and defense always needs to be played at a high level.

Let the grind continue at home on Thursday vs GSW and then off on a 3 game road trip to Toronto, Orlando and Miami.

We knew January would be very difficult with 10 of 15 on the road.  We are just about through the gauntlet.

We are 7-2 in January including a 5-2 road record.

Yep, dboss, the margin between winning and losing in basketball is wah-fer thin. You are correct in that we need to just continue playing, doing what we do best.

I'm pretty sure we can beat Memphis and/or Denver in a Finals scenario. DEN is a little tricky with the altitude but if DEN had any kind of advantage with the altitude, they'd have as many titles as we do. MEM would be one of those teams to make their first ever/just happy to be there appearance in the Finals. Those outcomes can be predicted with great accuracy...0-X.

The team simply needs to enjoy the game. Have fun.
You know you are pretty darn good! Make it memorable. And as far as I can see, it is very much so a season to remember.

db

When this team is pushing the ball, passing it around. everyone getting a touch, they are so unbeatable. I wish wecould have a stretch where everyone was healthy, ready to play, and we go a real good stretch to show the league that the beginning of the season was not a fluke

Just saw that awhile ago Tatum had 48 and didn’t even attempt another shot, he was fine with 48. Then Jamal Crawford called him and told him you have to go for 50, that those moments are so rare that you have to go for it. Good for Jayson, if we can get both J’s rolling and team is healthy in the playoffs and Finals we should be ready this year as we are definitely playing the right way for the most part.