The defending champion Boston Celtics turned a one-point halftime lead into a 36-point victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, marking the team’s 60th win of the 2024-25 season.
The Celtics’ 60-win season is its second straight — something not accomplished since the Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen days of 2007-08 and 2008-09, and NBA-best 15th as a franchise. The Los Angeles Lakers have the second most 60-win seasons at 11.
“Everybody understands the common goal that we share,” Jayson Tatum told reporters when asked about his team’s success so far this season. “We know who we are. We know who we are individually. We know what we bring to this team to make it what it is. And we have so much fun doing what we do. You realize when you’re on special teams and you’re with special guys, you just try to cherish those moments. The season goes by fast, but it’s been fun so far.”
Boston had most of its preferred starting lineup on the floor for tipoff, with only Jaylen Brown (knee) sitting out of what was the second-to-last game of the regular season. And while the Celtics’ high-profile players certainly put up numbers in their limited minutes, it was a pair of bench players who were perhaps most responsible for their team’s win.
That’s because Boston, which headed into halftime with a one-point lead, erupted with seven three-pointers in a momentum-shifting third quarter. Sharpshooters Payton Pritchard (game-high 22 points) and Sam Hauser (20 points, five rebounds) led the way, connecting on four and six three-pointers, respectively, in the contest.
“I thought we played well in the first half as well, I just thought we just missed some shots,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said when asked about what changed for his team offensively in the third quarter. “I mean Al got a lot of good looks, I thought KP missed some, I thought JT missed some. I thought we got good looks. So I think it’s just continuing to take what the defense gives you and fight for the 2-on-1s and fight for the right read offensively. We’ve got to just continue to do that.”
In all, six players finished in double figures for the Celtics, with Derrick White leading starters with 19 points, seven assists, and four blocks. Tatum added yet another near triple-double performance with 16 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, followed by Al Horford (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Kristaps Porzingis (11 points, five rebounds).
Charlotte, meanwhile, also saw some solid offensive production off its bench as Seth Curry led the visiting team with 17 points, including five three-pointers. Jusuf Nurkic added 14 points off the bench for the Hornets, while KJ Simpson led starters with 11 points and eight rebounds.
It was “Freaky Friday” at the TD Garden on Friday night as Tatum and White swapped looks. The duo, who at times this season would randomly don headbands during games, instead traded styles — with Tatum wearing full-length tights on both legs (White’s typical look) and White sporting a three-quarter length tight on one leg and an arm band on his left arm (Tatum’s typical look).
“Since we probably won’t play next game, he said at shootaround this morning, he’s like we should do a headband game,” Tatum told reporters. “Somebody, one of the trainers may have mentioned, if D-White dressed like me during the game. So, it was kind of like their idea, and I just agreed to it and ran with it.”
The Celtics (60-21) will conclude their regular-season schedule Sunday in another home game against the Hornets (19-62). Charlotte has now lost six straight.
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