Celtics 116 - 104 Hornets
Final
  for this game

East playoff implications abound when Celtics visit Charlotte

Mar 30, 2015 - 2:02 PM

Video

(SportsNetwork.com) - Two Eastern Conference teams with playoff aspirations square off Monday, as the Boston Celtics pay a visit to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Celtics and Indiana Pacers are both a half-game behind the Brooklyn Nets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference, while the Hornets are a game off the pace.

Boston has been inconsistent since ripping off five wins in a row earlier this month and is only 2-5 in the last seven games. The losing ways continued with Sunday's 119-106 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Isaiah Thomas scored 19 points, Tyler Zeller added 16 and Kelly Olynyk posted 14 for the Celtics, who shot 41.9 percent and gave up 105 points through the first three quarters.

"Tonight is a combination of, there are some things we didn't do and they were playing at a very high level," said Celtics coach Brad Stevens. "We didn't provide any defensive resistance at all."

The Celtics will shoot for a third straight road win and are 14-22 as the visitor this season. They will host Indiana and Milwaukee next.

Charlotte is feeling good at the moment after opening a three-game homestand with a 115-100 victory over the East-leading Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. The Hawks, though, rested Paul Millsap, Al Horford, DeMarre Carroll and Kyle Korver.

Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson scored 21 and 20 points, respectively, for the Hornets and Mo Williams provided 18 off the bench. Marvin Williams ended with 17 points for Charlotte, which shot 52.5 percent from the field to stop a three-game slide and win for the third time in the last 11 tries.

"Obviously we caught a break with them resting their guys, but you can see we're fatigued and I thought our guys did a great job," said Hornets coach Steve Clifford.

The Hornets are 17-19 at home and will welcome Detroit to Time Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday.

In injury news for Charlotte, forwards Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (ankle) and Cody Zeller (shoulder) are questionable against the Celtics.

Charlotte is 2-1 against Boston this season, but the Celtics have won three of the previous five matchups between the teams.






Related News