This late in the season, with the top seed in the Eastern Conference locked up, the best thing the Boston Celtics can do is stay healthy and maintain good habits. They’re working on the former — Jaylen Brown is recovering from a hand sprain — but they did well with the latter on Monday night in Charlotte. They withstood a plucky first half from the Hornets and dominated in the second to score the 118-104 win.
Jayson Tatum led the way for Boston in the absence of his All-NBA teammate. He scored 25 points, tacking on 10 rebounds, four assists and three stocks for good measure.