Celtics absolutely stomp Hornets in Jayson Tatum’s return from ankle injury
Jayson Tatum dominated in his return from a one-game absence, and so did the Celtics in a total stomping of the Charlotte Hornets.
Nov 28, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) makes the basket against the Charlotte Hornets in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
David Butler II-USA TODAY SportsIn the Celtics' last game, Jaylen Brown had to step up in the absence of Jayson Tatum. On Monday night, he had to tag Tatum in. The NBA-best Celtics have not skipped a beat.
Tatum scored 35 points in his return after a one-game break, appearing unbothered by his recent ankle sprain, as the Celtics crushed the Charlotte Hornets by a 140-105 final at TD Garden on Monday night. Marcus Smart also stepped up with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting (72.7 percent) and a career-high 15 assists. The 35-point win came without Jaylen Brown, who was ruled out shortly before tipoff with neck stiffness.
The Celtics got off to a blistering start with 45 points in the first quarter, on the strength of 10 three-pointers, a mark that tied the franchise record for a single quarter. They led by as many as 42 points, when a Sam Hauser triple made it 124-82 early in the fourth quarter. The win puts the C's at 17-4, extending their first-place lead in the Eastern Conference to two games over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Keep scrolling for more of the top highlights from the Celtics' blowout win.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt's content here.
