Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum power Celtics to 113-102 win over Hornets

BOSTON — Boston Celtics fans got used to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum leading their team to win after win, yet Tatum's Achilles injury last year disrupted that pattern. It feels like it's fully returned though, and the Green Team's 113-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night was evidence of that. Brown played a game-high 43 minutes and led the Celtics with a team-high 35 points, with 17 of those coming in the second half.

Meanwhile, Tatum also had 15 of his 23 points in the final two quarters at TD Garden. Their strong finishes propelled the C's down the stretch and helped Boston outscore Charlotte 58-41 in the last 24 minutes of play. It was far from a perfect game for the Celtics, but they managed to grit out their second victory against the rising Hornets of the 2025-26 campaign and take home the season series (2-1) for the seventh straight time.

Hornets star LaMelo Ball did his best to spook the Celtics, scoring 36 points (2 shy of tying his season-high) in 37 minutes. But, none of those points came in the fourth quarter, as Celtics wing Jordan Walsh and a few other Green Teamers pitched in to slow the shifty point guard down. The Celtics are now 54-25 and on a four-game winning streak for the sixth time this season.

They're just one win away from clinching the second seed and it could come against their competition for said spot. The C's travel to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks — who hold the third seed — on Thursday night in what could be another potential playoff preview. Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: https://tiny.