Charlotte HornetsOpen full analysis
Boston CelticsOpen full analysis
The Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 113–102 on April 7 at TD Garden, with Jayson Brown leading the way with 35 points while Jayson Tatum added 23 in a balanced offensive attack. Boston's 49.4 percent field-goal shooting and 17 three-pointers made proved decisive against Charlotte's 43.2 percent accuracy and 16 threes, as the Celtics' 123.8 offensive rating outpaced the Hornets' 111.2. The game fell short of the 221.5 Vegas total, with Boston's second quarter proving pivotal—a 35-point outburst established control that Charlotte could not fully reverse despite LaMelo Ball's team-high 36 points and Brandon Miller's 20. The Hornets' fourth-quarter collapse, yielding just 15 points, reflected Boston's suffocating 111.2 defensive rating, which held Charlotte's 24 assists and 40 rebounds in check. Both teams committed 12 turnovers, but Boston's rebounding advantage (45 to 40) and 22 assists provided the margin of separation. The result solidifies Boston's playoff positioning while Charlotte faces mounting pressure in the Eastern Conference standings.
