The Boston Celtics have given the Charlotte Hornets their first defeat of the new season with a 14-0 run in overtime. At the end of an entertaining game, Dennis Schröder delivers important plays in extra time, but Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum make the headlines.
Charlotte Hornets (3-1) – Boston Celtics (2-2) 129:140 OT (BOXSCORE)
With his scoring, Tatum was the decisive figure among the guests for a long time, he finished the game with 41 points (14/28 FG), 8 assists and 7 rebounds. But in the overtime Brown and Schröder were there, the German scored 9 of his 23 points in overtime (6/14 FG, plus 8 assists and 6 rebounds), Brown brought the Celtics up with a three followed by a monster dunk the winning road. He had a total of 30 counters (12/20 FG).
At the Hornets, LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges put on a show with 25 points each and some nice highlights. Bridges tore the fans out of their seats with his dunks, Ball sank 7/14 threes (but 0/5 from the country of two) and distributed 9 assists. In overtime, however, he made his sixth foul and had to leave the court prematurely. Kelly Oubre Jr. still got 19 points, but tried in vain to carry the team offensively in the OT.
The night before, Brown was given a break against the Rockets due to knee problems, and now he was back. Al Horford (adductors) had to pass and so Schröder stayed in the starting five, Terry Rozier (ankle) and PJ Washington (knee) were missing from the Hornets. But that didn’t prevent the home side from setting off an early triple fireworks display.
Charlotte started with 4/5 from a distance, including two triples from Ball. On the other side, Schröder held up with a good offense and 8 points in the opening minutes, but Boston quickly fell behind against the excellent Hornets shoot (25:14). In addition to DS17, Jabari Parker became an important weapon off the bench, the veteran was immediately hot after his substitution and brought Boston back into the game with 11 points (13 in total).
Celtics and Hornets deliver an entertaining highlight show
His third threesome equalized 33:33 towards the end of the first quarter, after which the two teams had an entertaining exchange of blows inklusive Bridges-Highlight-Dunks, LaMelo threesomes and an irresistible scoring Tatum (17 in the second quarter). Neither side could gain a real advantage, however, Boston went into half-time with 68:66.
In the third quarter, too, the Hornets tried hard to live up to their reputation as League Pass favorites. LaMelo first let Smart stand in a stepback threesome, then he served Hayward with a casual full-court pass. Boston rattled down a 17: 6 run unimpressed, but Charlotte did not let herself be disturbed either. The bank brought the Hornets back and at the end of the third round they were 97:94 in the front.
Schröder and Brown lead Celtics to victory in overtime
In the final section it got wild again: The hosts pulled away by up to 12 points before Boston stormed back. When the score was equal, the final minute began, in which both the Hornets and the Celts screwed up their last play and never got any more throw – overtime!
There LaMelo brought his colors in front with his seventh three in the game, but Schröder also answered from downtown. In the next attack he served Brown in the corner and shortly afterwards the latter took over to a poster dunk in transition over bridges.
The Celtics were now ahead with +5, nothing came together for Charlotte. Schröder convinced on the one hand with good defensive actions, on the other hand with his sure hand off the line. With 4 free throws converted, he made everything clear, Boston ultimately ended the game with a 14-0 run and put an end to the Hornets’ winning streak after three games.
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