Tatum half century as Celtics pound Hornets

Jayson Tatum produced an electrifying 51-point display as the Boston Celtics kicked off the NBA's Martin Luther King Day holiday schedule with a 130-118 win over the lowly Charlotte Hornets on Monday.

Two days after scoring 33 points against Charlotte on Saturday, Tatum once again took centre stage with a commanding performance as the Eastern Conference leaders claimed a seventh straight victory.

Tatum brought up his half century in the closing seconds, nervelessly draining a long-range three-pointer which drew roars of appreciation from the home crowd at Charlotte's Spectrum Center.

It was the final act of an 18-point fourth quarter from Tatum, who made 15-of-23 from the field with seven…