Hornets Seek Revenge Against Celtics in Back-to-Back Matchup

The Charlotte Hornets are gearing up to face the Boston Celtics for the second time in as many nights, following a 124-109 loss on Friday. The Celtics, who are now 5-1 on the season, dominated the game despite a strong effort from the Hornets, who fell to 2-3.

In the previous matchup, Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Jaylen Brown contributed 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball scored 31 points and had 4 assists, and backup point guard Tre Mann added 23 points off the bench.

The game was marked by several contentious moments, including a Flagrant 2 foul by Grant Williams on Jayson Tatum, which led to Williams’ ejection. Derrick White of the Celtics criticized the Hornets’ late-game actions, calling them “BS” and highlighting the dangerous play by Williams and LaMelo Ball’s close-out on Tatum.

For the upcoming game on Saturday, the Celtics are favored by 11.5 points, with an over/under of 231.5 points. The SportsLine Projection Model, which has a strong track record in NBA picks, is leaning towards the under and has generated a point-spread pick that hits in well over 60% of simulations.

The Hornets will be looking to get back to the .500 mark and are hoping to capitalize on their home advantage. However, they face a significant challenge against the defending NBA champions, who have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams).