Charlotte Hornets vs Boston Celtics Picks and Predictions November 1st 2024

Hornets vs Celtics November 1st 2024

The Hornets will host the Celtics at 7:00 ET in a Eastern Conference matchup. The Celtics are favored by 10.5 points in this game, and the over/under line is 232.

Boston is 4-1 on the season, while Charlotte is 2-2. The game will be played at the Spectrum Center and can be seen on NBCS.

Celtics vs. Hornets Key Information

The Celtics dropped to 4-1 on the season after a 135-132 road loss to the Pacers on Wednesday. Boston entered the game as 7-point favorites but failed to cover the spread. The total score of 267 points exceeded the O/U line of 235.5 by 31.5 points.

Boston fell behind after the Pacers went on a 13-0 run, extending the score from 80-68 to 93-68. The Celtics rallied in the 4th quarter, outscoring the Pacers 38-24, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Despite shooting just 40.4% from the field, the Celtics managed to put up 132 points in their loss to the Pacers. Jayson Tatum led the way with 37 points, though he shot 40% from the field and hit only 27.8% of his threes, making 5. Derrick White also connected on 5 threes, hitting all of his attempts from deep and finishing with 23 points on 88.9% shooting overall.

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The Celtics made 19 threes as a team, shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc. Jaylen Brown added 25 points, scoring 11 in the 4th quarter. Tatum also had a strong finish, scoring 12 points in the final period, while Derrick White contributed 8 points in the 4th and 5 more in overtime.

Boston’s defense struggled on Wednesday, giving up 135 points to the Pacers, despite a solid 4th quarter where they allowed just 24 points. Indiana shot 48% from the field, scoring 35 points in the 1st quarter and 33 in the 3rd.

The Celtics limited the Pacers to 15 threes on 39% shooting from deep. Indiana also went 20/24 from the free-throw line. Boston finished with 11 steals and 5 blocked shots.

The Hornets evened their record at 2-2 after a 138-133 win over the Raptors on Wednesday. Charlotte was favored by 6.5 points but didn’t cover the spread, while the game’s total of 271 points went well over the pre-game line of 224.

Charlotte went on a 13-0 run early, stretching the score from 15-13 to 28-13. Toronto fought back, winning the 2nd quarter 43-34. The Hornets led 103-96 going into the 4th, but the Raptors edged them 37-35 in the final period.

In their 135-132 loss to the Pacers, the Celtics shot just 40.4% from the field, with a 33.3% mark from beyond the arc. They did hit 19 threes, though, with Derrick White going 5-for-5 from deep.

Jayson Tatum led the way with 37 points, including 12 in the 4th quarter. Jaylen Brown added 11 of his 25 points in the final period, while White contributed 8 in the 4th and 5 more in overtime.

Defensively, the Hornets were solid in the 1st quarter, holding the Raptors to just 16 points, but things unraveled in the 2nd, where they gave up 43 points. The struggles continued in the 3rd and 4th quarters, with Charlotte allowing 37 points in each, but they still managed to come away with the win.

Charlotte allowed Toronto to shoot 57% from the field, but they limited the Raptors to 9 made three-pointers on 32% shooting from beyond the arc. The Raptors also went 20/30 from the free-throw line. The Hornets finished with 9 steals and 8 blocks.

As the underdogs with a spread of +10.5, we recommend going with the Hornets on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 232 and our model has the Celtics and Hornets finishing with a combined 284 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Hornets Coach Charles Lee Brings Familiarity with Celtics in Weekend Matchup

The Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets are set to clash on Friday night in Charlotte, but this matchup has a unique twist: Hornets coach Charles Lee, now in his first year with the team, was previously an assistant with the NBA champion Celtics. This familiarity brings an interesting dynamic as the teams meet for the first of two consecutive games this weekend in Charlotte.

Hornets Thrive in Depth and Momentum Under Charles Lee

On Wednesday night, the Hornets captured their first home win of the season with a 138-133 victory over the Toronto Raptors. What stood out was the bench contribution, with Tre Mann (27 points), Cody Martin (25), and Grant Williams (17) combining for an impressive 69 points.

This marked the first game in which star point guard LaMelo Ball didn’t lead the team in scoring, showing that Charlotte is developing the depth that Lee has emphasized since his arrival.

“Their contribution was huge,” Lee said of the bench players. “We needed every one of those buckets, and we needed every one of those stops that those guys helped us get. I’m really proud of our bench, and that’s why I have so much confidence in the depth of this team.”

With Lee’s focus on building a well-rounded team, the Hornets are showing glimpses of growth in their ability to maintain pressure throughout games. They’re finding ways to both start strong and recover when momentum swings against them.

Celtics Look to Regroup After First Loss of the Season

Boston is coming off a tightly contested 135-132 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers, which marked their first defeat of the season after a 4-0 start. Despite trailing by as many as 24 points, the Celtics managed to rally and force overtime, displaying resilience but falling short in the end.

Coach Joe Mazzulla noted the team’s energy level as a key area for improvement, especially on the road.

“They outplayed us,” Mazzulla admitted. “I thought we were a step behind in everything. Their speed, their pace, they were a step ahead of us.”

Boston has leaned heavily on its stars, with either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown leading in scoring each game. Tatum, in particular, has been prolific, scoring 37 points in three games this season. The Celtics will look to maintain high energy and avoid slow starts as they enter the remainder of this road trip, with Mazzulla emphasizing sharper focus and pace.

Hornets Focus on Consistency and Strong Habits

While Boston rallied in Indiana, Charlotte found itself on a different trajectory against Toronto. The Hornets led by as much as 23 points in the second quarter before the Raptors closed the gap. Nevertheless, Charlotte regrouped and held off the Raptors, displaying the kind of resolve that Lee has aimed to instill.

“We’ve talked about it a ton in terms of the standards of excellence that we’re trying to set around here every day,” Lee said. “It’s a consistency of habits.”

The Hornets’ long-range shooting played a huge role in the win, as they knocked down 20 3-pointers. Lee credited effective screening and smart positioning for creating open shots on the perimeter.

“No. 1 is our screening,” Lee explained. “Our bigs do a phenomenal job of helping our guards create an advantage and get downhill, get to the paint. Some of those guys have the ability and versatility to pop sometimes, which I think confuses coverages.”

With these principles in place, the Hornets are carving out a path toward consistent play and using depth as a foundation for success.

Injury Updates and Player Availability

Charlotte could see the return of forward Brandon Miller, who has been sidelined with a glute injury. Miller participated in on-court activities prior to Wednesday’s game and is listed as questionable for Friday. His return would add an additional scoring and defensive option for the Hornets as they look to keep their winning streak alive.

For Boston, Tatum and Brown continue to carry the offensive load, but the team will be looking for stronger all-around contributions as they aim to improve energy and pacing on the road.

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A Familiar Rivalry with a New Perspective

While Boston won two of three matchups against the Hornets last season, it was Charlotte who claimed victory in their first meeting, an overtime thriller last November. With Lee now guiding Charlotte and intimately familiar with Boston’s strengths and weaknesses, this matchup promises to be an intriguing display of two evolving teams aiming to establish consistency and identity early in the season.