Celtics beat Hornets 114-99 in Charlotte as Tatum and Pritchard lead decisive second-quarter surge

Boston responds after early deficit with efficient shooting and a 36-point second quarter

The Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 114-99 on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Spectrum Center, using a decisive second-quarter run to take control and secure their third consecutive victory. Boston improved to 50-24, while Charlotte dropped to 39-36.

After a relatively even opening stretch, the Celtics turned the game with a 36-point second quarter, taking a 63-49 lead into halftime. Charlotte never led again after Boston seized momentum, and the Celtics’ largest advantage reached 20 points.

Key performers: Tatum sets the scoring pace, Pritchard supplies a major secondary scoring punch

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 32 points on 12-for-23 shooting, adding eight assists in 31 minutes. Payton Pritchard delivered 28 points, giving Boston a second high-volume scorer as the team built and protected its lead across the final three quarters.

For Charlotte, LaMelo Ball scored 19 points on 7-for-19 shooting. Brandon Miller led the Hornets in rebounding with six and finished with four assists, while Charlotte struggled to close possessions with consistent scoring.

Numbers that shaped the outcome

• Boston shot 51% from the field (42-for-83) compared with Charlotte’s 43% (36-for-83).

• The Celtics made 14 three-pointers on 34 attempts (41%). The Hornets hit 12 threes but needed 43 attempts (28%).

• Boston committed seven turnovers, while Charlotte had 12, contributing to extra possessions for the visitors.

• Rebounding was close (39-37 Celtics), but Boston led for most of the night, reflected in the game-flow metrics.

How the game unfolded by quarter

Charlotte opened with a 21-27 first quarter in Boston’s favor but remained within reach at halftime after the Celtics expanded the margin in the second. The teams played an even third quarter (26-26), leaving the Hornets needing a substantial fourth-quarter swing. Boston held steady with a 25-24 final period to close out the 15-point win.

Final score: Celtics 114, Hornets 99 (Boston led by as many as 20).

What it means in the standings and season context

The result strengthened Boston’s position near the top of the Eastern Conference and continued a late-March stretch of wins away from home. For Charlotte, the loss came as it navigated a tightly packed race in the East, where each game impacts playoff positioning.

Boston and Charlotte had already met earlier in March, and Sunday’s matchup served as a clear contrast in execution: Boston paired high-efficiency perimeter shooting with fewer mistakes, while Charlotte’s lower conversion rate from three and higher turnover count limited its ability to mount a sustained comeback.