Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown was impressed by the No. 9 seed Charlotte Hornets after Tuesday night’s matchup at TD Garden. In fact, he said it was almost like going up against a much younger version of the C’s.
In a potential first-round playoff preview, it took a come-from-behind rally for the Celtics to overcome the NBA’s third-youngest team. Ten days ago in Charlotte, Boston clinched a playoff berth without Brown and Derrick White. This time, to close out the regular-season series, the Celtics prevailed
with a 113-102 victory, leaving Brown taking note of Charlotte’s (awfully familiar) young core before a possible postseason reunion.
“This team kind of reminds me of us when we were younger,” Brown told NBC’s Ashley ShahAhmadi. “Young group, shoot the ball well, got a lot of different guys that can beat you, and have a fearlessness. So they came out ready to play.”
Coming off a win over the Toronto Raptors — another possible playoff foe — on Sunday, the Celtics knew opponents would bring a greater sense of urgency in the final weeks of the regular season. The Hornets sit just half a game behind the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, which is the difference between the ninth seed and the sixth seed. Charlotte also trails Toronto by 1½ games with two left to play, which could determine whether they enter the play-in tournament or punch a first-round ticket against the New York Knicks.
So Brown wasn’t surprised by how the Hornets came out.
“Give credit to Charlotte,” Brown told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I think it was a must-win game for them, and they came out like it. They came out trying to blow up screens. They came out playing with a different intensity level than we did to start the game.”
In the first quarter, the Hornets outscored the Celtics, 31-20, by sinking 7-of-17 3-point attempts. Boston struggled to keep up as Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball began taking over.
Ball finished with a game-high 36 points, shooting 12-of-14 with six 3-pointers. Several of his makes were 2K-esque, including his 35-foot stepback three over White and a forward-leaning three in the final minute of the first half.
Brown was stunned at how second-nature Ball’s trick shots were, as he constantly fired away with confidence.
“LaMelo was playing unbelievable, making some unbelievable shots,” Brown said.
Behind Ball’s masterclass, the Hornets were dangerous for nearly three quarters. Charlotte made as many first-half 3-pointers (13) as their two-point attempts, beating the Celtics at their own game. It felt as though in the blink of an eye, Ball was able to dribble across half court and find a quality 3-point look as the Hornets attempted 42 entering the fourth quarter — they attempt 43.1 per game this season.
“These guys, they have six, seven guys that can shoot,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “So they’re gonna shoot themselves into a game.”
Brown and the Celtics restored order in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter. They held Ball scoreless in the final frame and limited the Hornets to just 20 points on 7-of-21 shooting from the field, forcing three turnovers. Brown earned his final three baskets the hard way, attacking the rim each time and drawing several trips to the free-throw line.
At the charity stripe, Brown was met with MVP chants as he secured his 35th 30-point performance. He also reached 20,000 points for the campaign, becoming the eighth player in Celtics history to do so, joining Tatum, Isaiah Thomas, Paul Pierce, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, John Havlicek, and Sam Jones.
By then, the Hornets were out of reach for a comeback. But coach Lee’s group has established one thing: they’re not to be overlooked, now or in the future. Charlotte’s young, talented core led by Ball, a 2022 All-Star, Kon Knueppel, this season’s leader in 3-pointers made, and Brandon Miller, the team’s leading scorer, is set. It shouldn’t be too long before the Hornets begin marking their territory in the Eastern Conference, much like Brown and Tatum did after LeBron James packed up and joined the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference.
Until the Celtics officially discover their first-round opponent, Brown will focus on getting back in the lab and practicing his rock, paper, scissors strategy for the next time Boston runs into Charlotte.
Following Tuesday night’s win, as both teams left the floor, Brown reconnected with former Celtics teammate Grant Williams. The two squared off in a quick, friendly game of rock, paper, scissors — a ritual between them that hasn’t gone in Brown’s favor at all.
“Grant has probably beaten me — he probably knows the exact record — probably the last 50 times in a row,” Brown said. “He’s been on an insane stretch, and I give him all the credit. I don’t know how he does it, but you’re only as good as your last game.”
Boston took two of three versus Charlotte this season. Only time will tell if Brown and Tatum will see the reflection of their younger selves in Round 1.
