Hornets Sting Celtics Without Tatum

The Charlotte Hornets recently secured a significant victory against the Boston Celtics, marking a win they hadn't achieved since November 2023. This 118-89 triumph occurred at TD Garden, notably in the absence of Celtics star Jayson Tatum. Tatum has since returned from his injury.

Despite Tatum's absence, the Celtics have maintained a strong season, with contributions from various players. Jaylen Brown is experiencing a career year, averaging 28.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have also been key contributors. Despite earlier challenges with their center rotation, players like Neemias Queta have provided solid performances.

Boston's depth faces challenges due to several injury concerns for their upcoming game. Nikola Vucevic is out with a fractured finger, while Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Neemias Queta are listed as questionable. This situation could provide the Hornets an opportunity, especially considering their recent struggles containing elite wing scorers like Tatum and Brown.

Historically, the Hornets and Celtics share similarities in rebounding and three-point attempts, but differ in scoring distribution. Boston relies heavily on its top scorers, as seen in a prior game where only two Celtics reached double digits compared to four Hornets. The Hornets' defense will need strong individual efforts from players like Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller to limit the Celtics' stars and secure another victory.