Tatum scores 29 points, Celtics beat Hornets 113-103 to sweep back-to-back in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, Payton Pritchard had 22 points on six 3-pointers and the Boston Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets 113-103 for the second straight night at the Spectrum Center on Saturday.

Derrick White added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics, who beat the Hornets 124-109 on Friday night. Boston improved to 6-1.

Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball eclipsed the 30-point barrier for the fourth time this season, finishing with 36 points on 15-of-26 shooting before fouling out for the second straight game. Brandon Miller had 16 points in his return from a strained glute,

Tatum was just 1 of 9 from beyond the arc, but converted 14 of 17 free throws.

There were no incidents on the court Saturday night after Boston player Grant Williams was assessed a flagrant-two foul and ejected after plowing over Tatum at midcourt.

Celtics: No Jaylen Brown, no problem for the deep Celtics. Brown sat out with a hip flexor strain, but Boston didn't miss a beat, bolting to a 19-point lead in the second quarter. White stepped up his scoring and Jrue Holiday made big play after big play.

Hornets: LaMelo Ball has to find a way to stay out of foul trouble. Ball picked up two quick fouls and had to be replaced and watch as the Celtics built a 21-9 first quarter lead. He's far too valuable to the Hornets to be sitting on the bench.

After the Hornets came out on fire in the third quarter, Jrue Holiday hit a 3 to end the rally and Boston quickly pushed the lead back to double digits.

The Celtics outrebound the Hornets 44-34 with Charlotte playing without its top two centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards.

The Celtics head down Interstate-85 to face Atlanta at Monday night. The Hornets are at Minnesota on Monday night.

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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (23) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin (11) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets guard Nick Smith Jr. (8) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics forward Xavier Tillman (26) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives past Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) for a layup during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller goes up for a slam dunk over Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller goes up for a slam dunk over Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) looks to pass the ball away from Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The last Orlando-Miami game ended with the Magic on a big run. And on Thursday, the Magic started the rematch with another flurry.

The Magic scored the first 14 points of Thursday's game against the Heat, coming on the heels of Orlando outscoring Miami 37-8 in the fourth quarter of their matchup on Saturday — a huge rally that capped a comeback from as much as a 25-point deficit.

Add up the fourth quarter Saturday and the start on Thursday, and it was a 51-8 Orlando run over about 17 minutes of game time — separated by a few days, of course.

The 14-0 run was Orlando's biggest to start a game since it took a 15-0 lead to open things against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 4, 2001.

Miami closed the gap Thursday to within 31-22 by the end of the first quarter.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Orlando Magic players from left, Jonathan Isaac (1), Cory Joseph, Trevelin Queen (12) and Tristan da Silva (23) celebrate a win during the final moments an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)