Celtics-Hornets takeaways: Tatum, C’s fall just short in OT thriller originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Three Key Storylines
Free throws aren’t free
Non-Tatum starters struggle
Tatum, Pritchard do their part
The Boston Celtics’ six-game win streak was snapped Monday night as they fell to the Charlotte Hornets in an overtime thriller at Spectrum Center.
On the second night of a back-to-back, the C’s showed some signs of fatigue and failed to maintain multiple double-digit leads over the Hornets. Charlotte overcame an 18-point deficit early on and an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force OT.
Hornets star LaMelo Ball (36 points) came through with a clutch layup that tied the game at 108 with seven seconds remaining in the fourth. Miles Bridges (14 points) drilled what turned out to be the game-winner with 6.6 seconds left in OT.
The Celtics’ loss brings them to 12-3 on the season. They’ll return home to host the Milwaukee Bucks in a much-anticipated matchup Wednesday night.
First, here are our takeaways from Monday’s defeat.
Free throws aren’t free
Jayson Tatum stepped to the line for three free-throw attempts with 5.2 seconds left in overtime. If he hit all three, he would have tied the game at 109.
He hit the first two and missed the third in what was a fitting end to the game for Boston.
The C’s had a miserable night at the charity stripe. Jrue Holiday missed two free throws with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter to keep it a one-possession game for Charlotte. Kristaps Porzingis missed four of his 10 free-throw attempts
Had the Celtics hit just a few more shots from the line, they’d be heading back home with their seventh straight win. Instead, they were just 18-of-28 from the line while the Hornets were a near-perfect 16-for-17. That was the difference.
Jayson Tatum’s reign in Charlotte continues
Over the summer, Tatum opened up about playing with the same intensity in Charlotte that he would in a marquee matchup against a rival opponent.
“I don’t decide, ‘We’re playing the Hornets tonight and I’ma chill,'” he said. “I only get to go to Charlotte two times a year. Somebody paid their money to come watch…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/celtics-hornets-takeaways-tatum-cs-031225842.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2023-11-21 03:17:45
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