The Celtics Celebrate Easter By Beating The Hornets By 30 Points & Stealing All Of Their Candy

 

    What would have been a fun Easter night matchup between the Celtics (25-25 overall, 15-9 home) and the Hornets (25-24 overall, 12-15 away) lost most of its juice before the game had even started. On Saturday it was revealed that former Celtic Gordon Hayward would miss at least the next four weeks with a sprained foot. Add that to Rookie of the Year favorite LaMelo Ball already being out with a broken wrist and you can perhaps understand why shorthanded Charlotte got their asses kicked 116-86 tonight at the TD Garden. The Hornets actually led by one point (26-25) after the first quarter but the Celts proceeded to outscore them 73-44 over the second and third quarters combined. Boston's second win in a row brought them back to .500 and within a game of fourth-place Atlanta (26-24) and fifth-place Miami (26-24) in the Eastern Conference. 

    Each Celtics starter scored at least 12 points and shooting guard Evan Fournier (17 points, 6 assists, 2 steals) had his second straight quality outing off the bench for the C's. Swingman Jayson Tatum led the way with a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds while shooting guard Jaylen Brown added 17 points and six rebounds. Center Robert Williams notched 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals followed by point guard Kemba Walker (6 assists) and guard Marcus Smart who each dropped 12 points in the blowout victory. 

    The Celtics improved to 2-2 on this neverending seven-game homestand and the final three games this week should be telling: they host the top team in the East-the Sixers (34-16 overall, 14-11 away)-on Tuesday (7:30, NBC Sports Boston) the start of a back-to back that has the Knicks (25-25 overall, 11-15 away) here the next night (7:30, NBC Sports Boston); finally, the worst team in the NBA-the Timberwolves (12-38 overall, 5-21 away)-comes to town on Friday (7:30, NBC Sports Boston). Philly is having a great season in Doc Rivers' first year as their head coach so that will be a really tough one for Boston to win. They are tied in the standings with New York so that could go either way and no matter what happens in those first two contests, they should easily beat Minnesota with their eyes closed.

UPDATE 4/6/21: Fournier was ruled out for tonight's game due to him being back in the NBA's health & safety protocol.