LaMelo Ball had 31 points and nine assists, but cold shooting doomed the Charlotte Hornets in the second half as they lost to the Boston Celtics, 122-106.
Both teams came out of the gate firing. After Jayson Tatum missed the game’s first shot, the teams exchanged seven straight made shots, six of which were 3-pointers. The offenses briefly cooled off, but not for long. There was a point in the first quarter where the Hornets had made 11-of-15 shots but were still only tied with the Celtics. The Hornets held the visitors without a point for the final 3:49 of the quarter aside from a jumper from Malcolm Brogdon at the final buzzer.