Final: Hornets 124, Celtics 117 -- C's blow 18-point fourth quarter lead

The Celtics continue to top them themselves when it comes to ugly losses. For 40 minutes on Saturday night, they shorthanded visitors played great basketball, building an 18-point lead with eight minutes remaining behind the hot shooting of Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown and unselfish basketball on offense. From there, it all went downhill in a hurry. The Hornets closed the gap out with a 30-5 run over the final 7:43 of the game behind the hot shooting of Kemba Walker (36 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists), handing Boston perhaps their ugliest loss of the year, a 124-117 defeat.

First Half Notes

• Robert Williams gets a surprise NBA start early over Daniel Theis so he can match up against a non-offensive threat in Biyombo.


• The move looks good early as Williams plays very solid in the first six minutes. Looked to pass almost every time he touched it but blocked a shot and did not make any major mistakes on D.


• Miles Bridges roasted Marcus Morris early with seven quick points in the opening few minutes.


• Kyrie Irving comes out pushing the tempo with great success, as he’s in rhythm from inside and out with no one capable of guarding him on Hornets. He scores 16 points in first quarter on 7/9 FG.


• C’s understandably having problems on the offensive glass early against the Hornets size.


• Jaylen Brown coming out looking very smooth and aggressive on offense, knocking down his first four shots and pushing the ball well in transition.


• Semi Ojeleye with a nice mix of driving and shooting 3s when getting an open look on the perimeter.


• Theis/Yabusele both getting a chance at center with the second unit.


• Williams with a couple nice defensive sequences before missing a putback dunk and a taking a hard fall on his back/tailbone. He walked off under his own power but would be surprised to see him return tonight or anytime soon.


• Hornets guards/wings (Monk/Lamb/Bridges) looking very comfortable tonight from 3. They go 9/19 in first half from deep.


• C’s go cold at end of the second quarter thanks to Morris/Tatum, which results in 12-3 Hornets run. C’s go 11/19 from 3 but only lead by one at half.

• The Celtics will be down three rotation players in Gordon Hayward (concussion), Aron Baynes (ankle) and Al Horford (rest/sore knee). Daniel Theis should get the start in place of Horford, with Robert Williams, Guerschon Yabusele or new addition Greg Monroe possibly in line for some minutes. Some more analysis on those absences here


• The Hornets will be down Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller as they fight desperately to remain in the East playoff picture. They sit three games back of the final playoff spot with 11 to play.


• The Celtics are up 2-1 in the season series against the Hornets but they lost their last game in Charlotte after giving up 43 points to Walker in a 117-112 loss back in November. Containing Walker should be a bigger challenge tonight with Horford out of the mix.


• With a win and a loss by the Heat on Saturday night, the Celtics will clinch a playoff spot. They remain just a half-game back of the Pacers for the No. 4 seed in the East with 10 games to play.