 lost their third straight game despite hitting 19 3-pointers.Trailing 112-94 with 8:22 remaining, Charlotte closed the game on a 30-5 run that included all 18 of Walker's fourth quarter points.In front of a sellout crowd of 19,438 at Spectrum Center, Irving scored 16 first-quarter points as the Celtics appeared to take control of the game.But Charlotte rallied and closed within 64-63 at halftime.The Celtics built an 18-point lead with 8:22 left. Charlotte scored on 12 of its last 19 possessions to catch and pass Boston. Walker scored his 18 fourth quarter points in the final 7:43, including two clinching free throws with 5.9 seconds left.Boston scored twice on its final 20 offensive posessions.TIP INSCeltics: Aron Baynes (left ankle sprain) and Gordon Hayward (concussion protocol) could be back in action on Sunday, though neither was in Charlotte with the team. Baynes injured his ankle in Wednesday's 118-115 loss at Philadelphia and Hayward missed his third game on Saturday. The Celtics lost another player, 6-foot-10 rookie Robert Williams, who suffered a lower back injury when he landed hard after missing a follow dunk in the second quarter.Hornets: Cody Zeller (left knee) missed his sixth straight game and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (concussion protocol) his second straight game on Saturday. Nicolas Batum also missed Saturday's game - his second of the year - due to illness.UP NEXTCeltics: Host San Antonio on Sunday.Hornets: Visit Toronto on Sunday.---More NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Mar 22, 2019The Charlotte Hornets, sinking in the Eastern Conference playoff chase, decided to shake things up.Coach James Borrego, his team having won just four of its past 15 games, went with a more youthful look Thursday night, when the Hornets responded with a 113-106 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.Perhaps he will try the same strategy Saturday when Charlotte (32-39) plays host to the Boston Celtics (43-29)."Right now, I'm taking it in one-game segments," Borrego said. "Right now, I like that lineup. I wanted to take a look at it." That lineup included second-year player Dwayne Bacon at guard in place of 11th-year pro Nic Batum while continuing to feature rookie forward Miles Bridges, who posted his first career double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds).Meanwhile, center Willy Hernangomez (only four appearances since Feb. 2) played 23 minutes off the bench, Malik Monk saw his second-most minutes (19) in more than a month and rookie point guard Devonte' Graham played for only the fourth time in more than a month."This isn't throw in the towel, we're out of the playoffs," Borrego said after the game."There is none of that going on right now. No. 1, we're trying to win every single game, just like we did tonight. We're not holding back. But I want to take a look at some different combinations and some different bodies out there, and I think that's what we're doing with this lineup change." Charlotte's victory Thursday night pulled it within three games of the Miami Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.The Celtics are mostly locked into a first-round 4-5 matchup against Indiana, although home court will be up for grabs down the stretch.Boston star guard Kyrie Irving, who has scored at least 30 points in a career-high four consecutive games, has talked about sitting out some games to rest for the playoffs, so load management and health will be big topics for the Celtics in the final 10 games, with health taking priority over seeding."We don't want to look past these 10 games," said guard Terry Rozier, "but we're obviously getting prepared for the playoffs. Some guys may rest, but we got to get in that mindset right now. Once the playoffs are here, it's like, there are no taking steps back. We got to be ready from out the gate; fresh out the gate." Forward Gordon Hayward has missed two games while in concussion protocol, although he is likely to return Saturday at Charlotte, or Sunday at home against the San Antonio Spurs, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Thursday in his weekly radio appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston.Ainge also seemed positive about center Aron Baynes, who suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain in Wednesday's loss at Philadelphia. Baynes is critical to Boston's defense."I don't think it's going to be three weeks, but I think that it's just a day-to-day injury," Ainge said on radio. "We'll obviously be careful. We need everybody healthy by playoffs." Boston is 2-1 against Charlotte this season, the most recent game a 126-94 home win for the Celtics on Jan. 30, when Irving was sitting out due to a hip injury.--Field Level Media
Looking for More Picks?
You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Hornets
Pick Center
NBA
FINAL (3/23/2019)
ProfessorsPicks
