Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics Pick & Prediction APRIL 13th 2025
Preview and Prediction
The Boston Celtics will be aiming for a complete victory over the Charlotte Hornets as they wrap up the regular season on Sunday afternoon.
The Celtics (60-21) have emerged victorious in all three of their previous encounters with the Hornets (19-62), including a dominant 130-94 win on Friday night in Boston. The Celtics' bench players were the stars of the game, contributing a total of 69 points, with Payton Pritchard leading the way with 22 points and Sam Hauser adding 20.
Charlotte managed to keep the game close in the first half, trailing by only one point at halftime. However, they were outscored 76-41 in the second half, leading to their defeat.
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According to Charlotte coach Charles Lee, the team came out with the right mindset in the first half, both offensively and defensively. However, in the second half, they made too many mistakes, which the deep and talented Celtics team was able to capitalize on.
The Celtics decided to rest their starters in the fourth quarter of Friday's game, and it is reported that they will do the same in Sunday's game as they have nothing to gain in the standings.
The Hornets were eliminated from playoff contention last month and have not made the NBA playoffs since the 2015-16 season. They are currently on a six-game losing streak and have lost eight consecutive games on the road.
As for the Celtics, they will enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, but their first-round opponent will not be determined until after the play-in tournament.
Boston's Jayson Tatum spoke about the team's chemistry and how everyone has played a role in their success this season. He also emphasized the importance of cherishing the moments with a special team and special players.
The Celtics' 60th win of the season on Friday marked the 15th time in franchise history that they have reached this milestone. The last time they won 60 games in a season was in 2023-24, when they went on to win the NBA championship with a record of 64-18.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla praised the character and competitive nature of his players, as well as the hardworking and dedicated staff. He also emphasized the responsibility of everyone in the organization to move forward and strive for success.
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Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics Recap APR 13TH 2025
Payton Pritchard tossed in a game-high 34 points to help the Boston Celtics defeat the visiting Charlotte Hornets 93-86 Sunday on the final day of the NBA's regular season.
Charlotte, which trailed by 21 early, tied the game 86-86 on a Moussa Diabate layup with 2:13 to play, but Boston regained control by scoring the game's final seven points. The Celtics (61-21) won all four meetings with the Hornets (19-63) this season.
As expected, the Celtics rested most of their top players. Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford were all ruled out on Boston's injury report.
Boston received 15 points from Sam Hauser and 11 points and eight rebounds from Luke Kornet. Jordan Walsh added 10 points and eight rebounds.
Josh Okogie and Jusuf Nurkic each scored a team-high 14 points for Charlotte. Nurkic also collected nine rebounds.
Boston will enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and will open the playoffs against either Orlando or Atlanta. The Magic and Hawks will meet in the play-in tournament Tuesday and the winner of that game will earn the No. 7 seed.
Charlotte hasn't made the NBA playoffs since the 2015-16 season.
The Hornets ended the season on a seven-game losing streak and lost their last eight road games, securing the league's third-worst record. Charlotte finished 5-31 against teams that have a record above .500.
Boston used a 16-0 run to take a 24-5 lead and had a 33-15 advantage after 12 minutes. The Celtics made 7-of-14 3-point attempts in the quarter and extended their lead to 54-43 at halftime.
A 9-0 run allowed Charlotte to pull within five points, 57-52, with 9:58 remaining in the third. The Hornets took a 64-63 lead on a Diabate dunk with 2:15 left in the quarter, but Boston carried a 69-68 lead into the fourth quarter.