Tatum and Pritchard Steer Celtics to 114-99 Triumph Over Hornets in Charlotte

Key Takeaways:

• Jayson Tatum scored 32 points and delivered eight assists as the Celtics claimed a third consecutive win
• Payton Pritchard contributed 28 points, continuing his impressive performances in Jaylen Brown’s absence
• Charlotte, despite leading the NBA in three-pointers made and ranking third in percentage, converted only 12 of 43 attempts from long range

Match Analysis

The Boston Celtics secured a convincing 114-99 victory against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday evening at the Spectrum Center, notching their third straight win. With Jaylen Brown sidelined for a second game in a row due to Achilles tendinitis, Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard stepped up, amassing 32 and 28 points respectively. Neemias Queta also made a significant impact, tallying 17 points and eight rebounds.

Player Performance

Tatum was in commanding form throughout the contest, making 12 of 23 field goal attempts, including five of ten from behind the arc, and also provided eight assists. Pritchard demonstrated his ability to fill in for Brown, finishing 10 of 18 from the floor and a perfect six for six from the free-throw line. Entering the match, he had averaged 25.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists across the previous eight outings where Brown had been absent.

For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball registered 19 points while Miles Bridges added 14. Charlotte came into the night atop the NBA for total three-pointers made with 1,210, and third in three-point percentage at 38.2%. However, they struggled from deep, managing just 12 of 43. Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel combined for only seven made threes from 27 attempts.

Exiting the Sting Zone with a W 😎 pic.twitter.com/7nZS7qQap3

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 30, 2026

Game Progression

Boston built a commanding cushion early, surging to a 19-point advantage as they restricted the Hornets to just five successful three-pointers from 21 first-half attempts. Charlotte did manage to pull the deficit back to nine early in the fourth quarter, but Tatum immediately responded with a three-pointer over Bridges, then gestured to the crowd as the lead swelled back to 16 points. Pritchard’s layup extended the gap to 17 with 3:52 left, prompting Hornets coach Charles Lee to bring in his reserves.

Charlotte wrapped up its seven-game homestand with consecutive defeats, following five straight wins to guarantee at least a play-in berth.

Looking Ahead

The Celtics continue their road trip with a contest in Atlanta on Monday, while the Hornets will travel to Brooklyn for their next match on Tuesday.