The Boston Celtics asserted their defensive dominance early, holding the Charlotte Hornets to just 33% shooting from the field to take a commanding 56-40 lead into halftime on Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.
Boston controlled the opening frame, closing the first quarter on a 7-2 spurt to lead 27-21. Their stranglehold tightened in the second period, as they opened with an 11-2 run to extend their advantage to 15 points. The Celtics' defense consistently generated stops and easy transition opportunities, preventing Charlotte from ever establishing an offensive rhythm.
Jayson Tatum led all scorers with an efficient 18 first-half points, while veteran guard Payton Pritchard provided a crucial spark off the bench with 11 points. The Hornets, struggling against Boston's length and physicality, were led by Miles Bridges' 10 points. Rookie Kon Knueppel added 9 points, but Charlotte's backcourt of Coby White and others combined to shoot just 5-for-19 from the field.
The Hornets face a steep climb in the second half, needing a significant offensive adjustment to counter Boston's relentless defense and chip away at the 16-point deficit.
