Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics  

Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics  

Monday, April 1, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

Spectrum Center
333 E Trade St.
Charlotte, NC 28202

Tickets: $24 plus

The Hornets will host the Boston Celtics for the second time this season on Monday night at Spectrum Center. The Hornets hold a 1-0 season series lead, after beating Boston in an overtime thriller in late November. The Celtics have lost two of their last three games, including back-to-back matchups against a shorthanded Atlanta Hawks team. Boston currently holds the best overall record in the NBA (58-16), and comfortably sit atop the Eastern Conference. The Hornets enter this game on a back-to-back, following the Easter Sunday 130-118 loss to the Clippers.  

The Hornets will wear their Classic Edition uniforms tonight, a design that echoes the jerseys worn from 1997-2002. Monday night’s game will be the last Anniversary Night of the year, as the franchise celebrates 35 years of basketball in the Queen City. 

What to watch for: 

The Boston Celtics rank first in the NBA in offensive rating (122.3) and third in defensive rating (110.7). Boston has multiple elite on-ball defenders, allowing them to switch nearly every matchup on defense, and they are able to funnel players to their defensive anchor, Kristaps Porzingis. The Celtics excel on both sides of the court, also leading the league in efficient field goal percentage (57.8). Boston can win games in a multitude of ways, whether it’s a high-scoring shootout, or a grind it out defensive game. 

 

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The Hornets will need to simply make shots in order to keep this game competitive. Charlotte ranks second-to-last in the NBA in defensive rating, and will have trouble containing this high-powered Celtics team. Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller will be the most important players for the Hornets, as they look to match or exceed the play of Boston’s dynamic All-Star wing duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. 

Miller’s workload has steadily increased during this season, but the rookie forward is eager to get back on the court following Sunday’s game: “I feel great. I’m playing tomorrow,” he said in the post-game media availability. 

Celtics guard JD Davison (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Hornets. Jaylen Brown (sprained left hand), Jaden Springer (knee), and Kristaps Porzingis (right hamstring) are all questionable for tonight’s matchup. 

Hornets forward Aleksej Pokusevski (illness) is listed as day-to-day. Pokusevski did not play in Sunday’s game vs. the Clippers. Seth Curry (right ankle), Cody Martin (left ankle), and Mark Williams (low back injury) are out for the Hornets.

Inside the Numbers: 

• Brandon Miller has made at least five three-pointers in eight games this season. It is the most in a season by any rookie both this year and in franchise history. 
• Hornets guard Vasa Micic dished a career-high 13 assists vs. the Clippers on Sunday (March 31).
• Brandon Miller has made 164 three-pointers this season, passing Kyle Kuzma and Rudy Fernandez for the ninth-highest single-season total by a rookie in NBA history. Next up is Steph Curry in 8th place (166).

Jeremy Grandison is a Charlotte native and contributing sports writer for CLTure. He also hosts his own podcast, Lock It or Leave It.

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