Preview: Celtics Travel to Charlotte to Take on Former Friend Terry Rozier, Hornets
AP Photo | Michael Dwyer
After dropping a tough game to the Brooklyn Nets, the Celtics are back in action for a matinee game. They take on former Celtic Terry Rozier and the Charlotte Hornets.
HOW TO WATCH
Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, N.C.
Time: 1:00 p.m. (EST)
Channel(s): ESPN
PLAYER STATS
Rozier has been the leading scorer for the Hornets this season. He is currently averaging 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists a night. With the flurry of injuries the team has dealt with recently, Miles Bridges has also carried a huge load. Over the last ten games, he has been averaging 20.3 points a night on 53-45-77 splits. PJ Washington (16.3), Devonte’ Graham (14.8), and Jalen McDaniels (12.3) have also been averaging in the double-digits over that stretch.
As for Boston, the injury bug has tainted the team’s scoring numbers as of late. Jaylen Brown has averaged 31.5 points in the team’s last five games but has only appeared in two of them. Jayson Tatum (25.0) has played in all five, Kemba Walker (23.3) has played in three, and Marcus Smart (15.3) has played in four. An under-the-radar player lately has been Payton Pritchard, who has appeared in each of the Celtics’ last five games and is averaging 14.4 points on 52-55-100 splits.
RECENT GAMES
Similar to Boston, Charlotte has been dealing with a ton of injuries to key players lately. They have dropped six of their last ten games and are 29-30 on the season. This puts them at eighth in the Eastern Conference with only a three-game buffer between them and the ten seed.
Boston had a rough week last week, going 1-2 in three games they could have won. They have still won seven of their last ten games, but the losses to the Bulls and Nets stung. They are currently 32-28, sit at sixth in the Eastern Conference, and are 1.5 games back of the four seed.
INJURIES
Gordon Hayward (foot) and Malik Monk (ankle), two of Charlotte’s top scorers this season, are both out in this one. LaMelo Ball (wrist), despite being cleared to return to individual basketball activity, is not likely to play either. Rookie Nate Darling (ankle) is also out, which finishes off the injury report for the Hornets.
Robert Williams (knee) is the only player listed on the injury report for the Celtics. Both Walker and Brown, who were out last game, are seemingly available to play.
KEYS TO THE GAME
The Celtics took on this Hornets team not too long ago and blew them out 116-86. To replicate that success, taking care of the basketball will be the number one priority. Boston had 19 turnovers against Brooklyn the other night, and it killed them. When they blew out the Hornets at the beginning of April, they only had six. Charlotte loves to get out and run, so the Celtics cannot get sloppy with the ball.
Another interesting thing to note is Charlotte’s center rotation. James Borrego has been starting rookie Vernon Carey a lot lately and giving PJ Washington tons of minutes at the five. Tristan Thompson could have a solid opportunity to scrap down low and get the Celtics some extra possessions. He has been great lately, so hopefully, this will be another opportunity to show his value.
Lastly, the Celtics will have the best two players on the floor for this game in Tatum and Brown. Tatum broke out of his shooting slump last game, and Brown was on fire before being sidelined. They should have free reign on the offensive end and need to take advantage of it. Expect big games from one, if not both of them.
PREGAME SHOW
Make sure to tune in to our live pregame show, “The Banner Town Build Up.” We are live 30 minutes before every Celtics game @GuyBostonSports on YouTube and Facebook. See you there at 12:30 p.m. (EST) today!
