4/12 Preview: Celtics vs. Hornets

When the Boston Celtics host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, they’ll try to avoid losing three games in a row.
Boston (62-18) lost 104-91 on the road to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, then on Thursday, they were defeated 118-109 by the visiting New York Knicks. Since securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference on April 3, the Celtics have been resting their starters throughout the fourth quarter of games.

After trailing the Knicks 69-48 at the half, the Celtics’ 13-game home winning run was snapped by New York.
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said, “It’s just a tough spot to be in, but I did not like the effort level in the first half.” “I thought our guys have handled (having nothing to play for) as best as they could.”In our past two games, we faced two clubs who were quite desperate. Even if we would love to be able to replicate it, it’s not where we are right now. Having said that, I don’t mind the outcomes of the last two games since I believe they are significant. It’s not better to go into the playoffs with a ton of victories and a positive self-image than it is to have a little cut on your lip.”
The Celtics and Hornets will play for the third time this season on Friday; the two previous meetings took place in Charlotte. On November 20, the Hornets defeated Boston 121-118 in overtime, and on April 1, Boston triumphed 118-104.
This season, Boston has not dropped three straight games. For the first time since losing to the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers in January, the Celtics will also be attempting to avoid suffering back-to-back home defeats.
The Hornets (20-60) are coming off a 115-114 away win against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, after having lost six of their previous eight games. By the end of the third quarter, Charlotte was down by 18 points, and going into the last 12 minutes, the score was 92-77.
In the victory, rookie Brandon Miller of the Hornets scored a game-high 27 points. Tre Mann finished with a career-high seven assists, seven steals, and 16 points.
Bruce was excellent under duress, said to Charlotte coach Steve Clifford. “We just continued, one property at a time. Over the last year, we have really become rather proficient at it. They performed well, maintained composure, and returned with many late moves.”
Miller made nine out of seventeen field goals, five of eleven from three-point range. With at least seven games with 25 points and five 3-pointers, he joined the ranks of Stephen Curry (nine), Allen Iverson (eight), Trae Young (seven), and Cade Cunningham (seven) as the fifth rookie in NBA history.
“Being locked in on the defensive side — I think that’s why we won,” Miller said. “It’s crucial to practice with your teammates and play as many games as you can. That seems to be one of the current issues we’re addressing. Even if we’re not in the playoffs or anything, we’re still improving through all of these games. Our mindset is to come here and improve.”
On Sunday, Charlotte will play a road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers to wrap off the season. On Sunday, the Boston Celtics will play the Washington Wizards at home to conclude the regular season.

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