Hornets at Celtics
Perhaps a closed-door meeting that kept the media waiting Friday night will help the Boston Celtics figure out how to get out of their latest funk. The Celtics will try to translate their discussion in the locker room to success on the court when they continue a four-game homestand against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
Boston has lost three in a row following an eight-game winning streak, including the first two games to begin the homestand to Phoenix and Milwaukee, which raced to a 120-107 triumph at TD Garden on Friday and prompted the postgame meeting. "At this point it comes down to cohesion, being able to trust the pass, trust what we have going on out there," point guard Kyrie Irving told reporters after the door was finally opened to the locker room. "Obviously some selfish play out there where ... we have some really talented guys, but we're better as a team sharing the basketball." The Celtics had a three-game losing streak in November that featured a loss at Charlotte and the Hornets enter this one having won two straight and five of their last seven. Marvin Williams produced a season-high 24 points to help Charlotte pick up a 98-86 win over Detroit at home Friday night.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), NBCS Boston
ABOUT THE HORNETS (16-15): All seven of Williams' made baskets came from 3-point range as the veteran was 7-of-11 from beyond the arc while missing his only three two-point shots. "He's at the core of who we are," coach James Borrego told the media of Williams, who has hit 13-of-22 from long range over a four-game hot stretch. "I'm really proud of him, he shot the ball well and his teammates were looking for him. He was locked and loaded tonight." Kemba Walker, who scored 43 in the win over the Celtics earlier this season, added 22 points Friday as Charlotte finished its longest homestand of the season with a 3-2 mark.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (18-13): Regardless of what came out of the meeting, Boston will still be challenged by a bad run of injuries among its big men. Starting center Al Horford and starting power forward Marcus Morris have been sidelined for seven and two straight games, respectively, and backup center Aron Baynes was lost for several weeks due to a broken hand suffered Wednesday against Phoenix. Jaylen Brown did his best to keep his team in it Friday with 21 points, a season high-tying seven rebounds and a career high-tying four steals.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Celtics SF Gordon Hayward made his first start in over a month Friday and finished with 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
2. Hornets SG Jeremy Lamb shot 37.1 percent on the homestand while making 5-of-19 3-pointers.
3. Boston has won four straight meetings at home.