Charlotte Hornets (19-61) at Boston Celtics (59-21) Game #81 4/11/25

Charlotte Hornets (19-61) at Boston Celtics (59-21)

Friday, April 11, 2025

7:30 PM ET

Common Season Recreation #81 Dwelling Recreation #40

TV: NBCSB, FDSN, NBA-LP

Radio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, 92.7 WFNZ-FM

TD Backyard

The Celtics are all the way down to their remaining 2 video games of the season. They’ve the identical opponent for each video games. They host the Charlotte Hornets for the third of 4 video games between these two groups. They may meet for the 4th, and remaining, time on Sunday for the ultimate sport of the season.

The Celtics are 2-0 towards the Hornets to date this season. The Celtics received the primary sport between these two groups 124-109 on November 1st at Charlotte they usually received the second sport 113-103 on November 2nd. The Celtics received the sequence 2-1 final season, profitable one in Boston and one in Charlotte and dropping 1 in time beyond regulation in Charlotte.

The Celtics are 79-46 total, all time towards the Charlotte Hornets. They’re 41-20 in video games performed in Boston. The Hornets are 1-9 of their final 10 video games towards the Celtics they usually have misplaced their final 4 towards them. The Hornets have misplaced their final 7 highway video games this season.

The Celtics stay 2nd within the East. They’re 4 video games behind 1st place Cleveland. They’re 9 video games forward of third place New York and 10 video games forward of 4th place Indiana. They’re 26-13 at house and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 37-13 towards Jap Convention groups. They’re coming off a loss of their final sport.

The important thing right here is that the Knicks are simply 1 sport forward of Indiana for the third seed. The Knicks have video games towards the Cavs at house and the Nets in Brooklyn. The Pacers have video games towards the Magic at house and the Cavs in Cleveland. The third and 4th seeds decide who the Celtics will face within the second spherical. If the Pacers transfer into the third seed, then the Celtics will seemingly face them within the second spherical and they’re a a lot more durable opponent than the Knicks.

The Hornets are 14th within the East, 44.5 video games behind first place Cleveland. They’re 5 video games behind thirteenth place Philadelphia and a pair of video games forward of fifteenth place Washington. They’re 7-32 on the highway and 1-9 of their final 10 video games. They’re 10-40 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’ve misplaced their final 5 video games.

The Charlotte Hornets’ new possession has been busy within the off season, hiring a brand new head coach, basic supervisor and staff president. Former Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee is the brand new Hornets head coach. The staff drafted French ahead Tidjane Salaun sixth and KJ Simpson forty second. Additionally they signed heart Taj Gibson and guard Seth Curry as free brokers.

On the commerce deadline, additionally they made some extra strikes. They traded heart Mark Williams to the Lakers however that commerce was voided. they then traded Nick Richards to Phoenix for Josh Okogie and three second spherical picks. Additionally they traded Cody Martin and Vasilije Micic to the Suns for Jusuf Nurkic.

Towards the Magic, Jaylen Brown (knee), Jayson Tatum (ankle), Kristaps Porzingis (reconditioning from sickness), Jrue Vacation (shoulder), Derrick White (ankle) and Al Horford (knee) have been all out. Tatum, Porzingis, Vacation, White, and Horford have all been cleared to play on this sport. Jaylen Brown has been dominated out for this sport. His absence on this sport means he received’t be eligible for submit season awards. I’m guessing that Sam Hauser will begin rather than Jaylen Brown.

The Hornets have 6 gamers listed as out. Miles Bridges (hip), LaMelo Ball (ankle), former Celtic Grant Williams (torn ACL), Josh Inexperienced (shoulder), Tre Mann (again), and Brandon Miller (wrist) are all anticipated to overlook this sport. As well as additionally they have Moussa Diabate listed as questionable as a result of an sickness.

Possible Celtics Starters

Grid View

Possible Celtics Starters
PG: Jrue Vacation
SG: Derrick White
SF: Sam Hauser
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Kristaps Porzingis

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Jordan Walsh
Torrey Craig
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Al Horford
Baylor Scheierman
Luke Kornet

2 Manner Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Miles Norris

Accidents/Out
Jaylen Brown (knee) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Possible Hornets Starters

Grid View

PG: KJ Simpson
SG: Nick Smith,Jr
SF: DaQuan Jeffries
PF: Tidjane Salaun
C: Mark Williams

Hornets Reserves
Josh Okogie
Seth Curry
Jaylen Sims
Taj Gibson
Jusuf Nurkic

2 Manner Gamers
Damion Baugh
KJ Simpson
Wendell Moore, Jr

Accidents/Out
Miles Bridges (hip) out
LaMelo Ball (ankle)
Grant Williams (knee) out
Josh Inexperienced (shoulder) out
Tre Mann (again) out
Brandon Miller (wrist) out
Moussa Diabate (sickness) questionable

Head Coach
Charles Lee

Key Matchups

Grid View

• 
  
  
  
  Kristaps Porzingis
  
  
  Picture by Adam Glanzman/Getty Photos
  
• 
  
  
  
  Mark Williams
  
  
  Picture by Kent Smith/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
  

Kristaps Porzingis vs Mark Williams
Williams is averaging 15.4 factors, 10.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per sport. he’s capturing 60.9% from the sector and no 3 pointers. That is his first sport towards the Celtics this season. He has been enjoying very nicely for the Hornets and I’m certain they’re glad that the commerce that might have despatched him to the Lakers was voided.

Grid View

• 
  
  
  
  Derrick White
  
  
  Picture by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Photos
  
• 
  
  
  
  Nick Smith, Jr
  
  
  Picture by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Photos
  

Derrick White vs Nick Smith, JrSmith is averaging 9.9 factors, 2.1 rebounds, and a pair of.4 assists per sport. He’s capturing 39% from the sector and 33.9% from past the arc. Within the first video games towards the Celtics, he averaged 4 factors and 1 rebound whereas capturing 40% from the sector and no 3 pointers.

Honorable Point out
Luke Kornet vs Jusuf Nurkic
Nurkic is averaging 8.7 factors, 7.8 rebounds, and a pair of.2 assists per sport. he’s capturing 47.9% from the sector and 30.3% from past the arc. This will probably be his first sport towards the Celtics this season. This needs to be a enjoyable matchup between backup facilities.

Keys to the Recreation
No Accidents – I’m assuming that we are going to have 4 starters within the sport and Al Horford as nicely. They might solely play restricted minutes, however they are going to be on the market enjoying, and so the most important key for this sport is for everybody to remain wholesome. In the event that they win or lose, they should avoid harm.

Protection – Protection is at all times the important thing to profitable. The Celtics are fifth the league with a defensive score of 110.4. The Hornets are twenty fourth within the league with a defensive score of 115.7. The Hornets are twenty eighth in scoring at 105.5 factors per sport whereas the Celtics are eighth, scoring 116.4 factors per sport. Protection turns into much more vital within the playoffs and so the Celtics must get into playoff mode and play lock down protection.

Rebound – Rebounding is vital to present the Celtics additional possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to present additional effort to beat the Hornets to rebounds. The Hornets are 4th with 16.3 second likelihood factors per sport and the Celtics must restrict these by placing extra effort into grabbing rebounds.

Transfer the Ball Rigorously – The Celtics must hold the ball transferring with the intention to get open pictures. After they cease the ball motion and go into hero-ball mode, they aren’t close to as efficient on offense. They should hold the ball transferring however additionally they want to remain targeted and never flip the ball over. They turned the ball over 15 occasions on Wednesday they usually can’t have that many turnovers in the event that they need to win.

X-Components
Dwelling to Finish the Season – The Celtics are at house for his or her final 2 video games to finish the season and may get a lift from their followers and enjoying on their house court docket. The Hornets are on the highway and will probably be for each of the ultimate two video games towards the Celtics. They must face a hostile crowd and an unfamiliar area and the fatigue of journey and staying in motels.

Teaching – Charles Lee helped to steer the Celtics to their 18th championship as an assistant coach. He’s now main the Charlotte Hornets as their head coach. I’m certain these two coaches share some teaching philosophies. I’m certain Charles Lee would like to beat his former staff. Joe Mazzulla received their first 2 conferences. Which coach will come out on prime on this one?

Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others enable extra bodily play. Some favor the house staff whereas others name each side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the way in which the refs are calling the sport and never enable no calls and dangerous calls to have an effect on their give attention to enjoying the sport.

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