Hornets Cruise Past Celtics for 6th Straight Win

Charlotte dominates Boston in lopsided victory

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Boston Celtics 118-89 on Wednesday, extending their winning streak to six games. Kon Knueppel led the Hornets with 20 points, while LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each added 18. The Hornets jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 24 points. Derrick White scored a game-high 29 points for the Celtics, but no other Boston player scored more than 9 points.

Why it matters

The Hornets' impressive winning streak has propelled them over the .500 mark for the first time since early in the season, showcasing their ability to turn things around after a slow start. Meanwhile, the loss snaps a strong run for the Celtics, who had won 12 of their previous 14 games.

The details

The Hornets scored the first 8 points of the game and led by as many as 24 points. Charlotte shot 12-of-25 from 3-point range in the first half to build a 64-43 halftime lead. The Celtics cut the deficit to 14 points in the third quarter, but the Hornets responded with a 12-2 run to pull away. Charlotte was without Grant Williams and Tidjane Salaun due to injuries.

  • The Wednesday contest opened the teams' three-game season series.
  • Boston will play at Charlotte on March 29.
  • The Pacers will visit the Celtics on April 7.

The players

Kon Knueppel

The Hornets' leading scorer with 20 points in the victory.

LaMelo Ball

Scored 18 points for the Hornets in the win.

Brandon Miller

Contributed 18 points for the Hornets.

Derrick White

Led the Celtics with a game-high 29 points in the loss.

Jaylen Brown

Recorded a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics.

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What’s next

The teams will meet again on March 29 when the Celtics visit the Hornets, and then the Pacers will play the Celtics on April 7.

The takeaway

The Hornets' impressive winning streak has them back over .500 and firmly in the playoff picture, while the loss is a setback for the Celtics who had been on a strong run. This game showcased the Hornets' ability to dominate opponents, even against a top team like the Celtics.