Celtics and Hornets Clash in Highly Anticipated NBA Matchup

Two of the league's hottest teams face off on Tuesday night in Boston.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:10pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting the fast-paced action of a basketball game between the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets, with the players' movements and the energy of the game captured through sharp, overlapping geometric planes in a cubist style.The Celtics and Hornets clash in an intense battle for Eastern Conference positioning, their players' movements and the game's energy captured in a cubist-inspired illustration.Boston Today

The Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets, two of the NBA's top teams in recent weeks, will meet on Tuesday night at TD Garden. The Celtics have won 10 of their last 12 games, while the Hornets have won 11 of their last 14 to climb up the Eastern Conference standings. Celtics stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum will look to lead their team to another victory, while the Hornets will counter with the dynamic play of point guard LaMelo Ball.

Why it matters

This matchup between the Celtics and Hornets features two teams jockeying for playoff position in the Eastern Conference. A win could help solidify either team's standing as they push for a high seed and potential home-court advantage in the postseason.

The details

The Celtics are coming off a 115-101 win over the Raptors on Sunday, led by Jaylen Brown's 26 points. Jayson Tatum nearly recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. The Hornets are led by the dynamic play of point guard LaMelo Ball, who scored 35 points in a win over the Timberwolves over the weekend.

  • The game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7 at 8 p.m. ET.
  • The Celtics' next games are April 9 at the Knicks and April 10 vs. the Pelicans.
  • The Hornets' next games are April 10 vs. the Pistons and April 12 at the Knicks.

The players

Jaylen Brown

All-Star forward for the Boston Celtics who led the team with 26 points in their last game.

Jayson Tatum

All-NBA forward for the Boston Celtics who nearly recorded a triple-double in the team's last game.

LaMelo Ball

Dynamic young point guard for the Charlotte Hornets who scored 35 points in the team's last game.

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What they’re saying

“We've been playing some really good basketball lately. The guys are locked in and we're ready for this big matchup against Charlotte.”

— Jayson Tatum, Forward, Boston Celtics

“LaMelo has been leading us and we're feeling confident heading into this game against a tough Celtics team. It's going to be a great battle.”

— Gordon Hayward, Forward, Charlotte Hornets

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a higher playoff seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the NBA's hottest teams should provide an exciting showcase of talent and competitive basketball as the regular season winds down. The outcome could have major implications for the playoff picture in the East.