Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Boston Celtics held off the Charlotte Hornets 113-102 on Tuesday at TD Garden. Jayson Tatum added 23 points, continuing his streak of six straight 20-point games, as both stars played the entire fourth quarter.
Brown credited the team’s energy shift in the second half for the win. “I think we just played with a little bit more energy. Give credit to Charlotte though. They came out playing with a different intensity level than we did to start the game, and as we picked it up to match their energy, I think that helped us pull away,” he said.
The Hornets led by 11 in the first half, but Boston outscored them 35-26 in the third quarter and limited them to 15 points in the fourth. LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 36 points, while Brandon Miller added 20, and Miles Bridges recorded 13 points and 12 rebounds. Rookie Kon Knueppel struggled, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting.
Brown spoke on managing effort and focus throughout the game. “Just not getting sped up, not letting the emotions of the game carry you. Continue to fight your mind and be focused on every single possession,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not going to be pretty, but you just got to get it done.”
He also praised Jordan Walsh, noting his impact in transition. “Jordan has the ability to change games. Plays like that are important,” Brown said. He highlighted the progress of younger players, adding that mentoring them has been a key part of his leadership.
Looking ahead to Thursday’s matchup at Madison Square Garden, Brown acknowledged the significance of Tatum’s return to New York. “I haven’t thought about that, but JT’s in a good spot. He’s playing good basketball, rebounding the ball, handling physical drives, looks more explosive than in the first couple games. We got his back,” he said.
Brown reflected on the Celtics’ season chemistry, emphasizing their early cohesion. “The way this group merged together as quickly as it did—it didn’t take long. I’m very proud of this group that we’ve been able to come together and find chemistry,” he said.
Boston, now 53-25, is closing in on the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte, 43-36, fights to avoid the play-in tournament with two games remaining. The Celtics visit the Knicks on Thursday, while the Hornets host the Pistons on Friday.
