Everything you need to know about the Celtics beating the Hornets 119-103 in BSJ Quickie Form:
Box Score
HEADLINES
Horford, Morris returns help produce a blowout win: Al Horford (10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) and Marcus Morris (12 points, 8 rebounds) started together for the first time in three weeks and the timing could not have been better for the Green, as the hosts used a huge second quarter (39-21) to cruise to a 119-103 win. Kyrie Irving led a balanced Celtics offense with a team-high 25 points, as five different C’s scored in double figures and eight scored at least points. Kemba Walker had a team-high 21 points for the visitors who struggled shooting the ball (39 percent from field) all night against a motivated C’s defense that played with a different level of intensity. Boston also snapped their three-game losing streak with the win.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics seized command in the opening minutes of the second quarter despite the fact that a red-hot Irving remained on the bench. The second unit plus Marcus Morris broke open a two-point game with a 14-4 run to start the frame, setting the tone for the hosts as they nearly doubled up the Hornets over 12 minutes. Two nights after getting dominated by a bunch of no names on the Bucks bench, the C’s made use of their talent advantage to help the starters build a 20-point lead.
TWO UP
Kyrie Irving: The All-Star opened up the game with six straight makes from the field on his way to 17 points in the first quarter alone. He finished the first half with 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting and likely would have been in line for a 40-point performance if the Celtics did not turn the game into a blowout so quickly in the second half.
Marcus Morris: The veteran forward showed virtually no signs of rust after a two-game absence with a sore knee. He was efficient with his shot selection, going 50 percent from the field and knocking down 2-of-4 attempts from 3-point range on his way to 12 points in just 20 minutes. He also picked up where he left off on the defensive rebounding front, grabbing a team-high eight boards.
TWO DOWN
Jaylen Brown in the first half: The swingman had one of his uglier halves of the season before intermission, piling up four fouls in just seven minutes while missing five of his first six shots from the field. With a full rotation back outside of Aron Baynes, Stevens limited him to just one short stint while handling more of his minutes to Terry Rozier.
Defending Kemba Walker: The rest of the Hornets’ offense was not a problem to contain, but Walker continues to give the C’s all kinds of problems. He scored 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, weaving his way through traffic in the paint while also knocking down three treys. If the Celtics end up drawing the Hornets as a first round matchup in the spring, Stevens is going to have to get creative with his defensive personnel to slow him down.
TOP PLAY
Just Hayward’s second alley-oop finish of the season:
Hayward throws down the lob!!! ??? pic.twitter.com/UzDNsKZgwi
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 23, 2018
