Celtics Cruise Past Hornets in Season Finale

Boston secures second seed in the East with dominant home win over Charlotte

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:22am

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A cubist-style painting depicting fragmented, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of green, blue, and purple, representing the action and energy of a basketball game between the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets.The Celtics' stifling defense and balanced scoring attack proved too much for the Hornets to overcome in this crucial late-season matchup.Boston Today

The Boston Celtics (53-25) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (43-36) 114-99 in their final regular season matchup. Boston's All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 57 points to lead the Celtics to victory and clinch the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Why it matters

This game had significant playoff implications, as the Hornets were fighting to improve their seeding and avoid the play-in tournament. The Celtics, on the other hand, solidified their position as one of the top teams in the East heading into the postseason.

The details

The Celtics jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, dominating the Hornets on both ends of the floor. Tatum scored a game-high 32 points, while Brown added 25 points. Charlotte's LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel combined for 38 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Boston's stifling defense and balanced scoring attack.

  • The Celtics and Hornets concluded their regular season series, which was tied 1-1 prior to this game.
  • This was the final game of the regular season for both teams.

The players

Jayson Tatum

All-Star forward for the Boston Celtics, averaging 21.5 points per game this season.

Jaylen Brown

All-Star guard for the Boston Celtics, averaging 25+ points per game over his last nine contests.

LaMelo Ball

All-Star guard for the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 19.8 points per game this season.

Kon Knueppel

Starting forward for the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 18.7 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was a big game for us and the guys came out ready to play. Our defense set the tone early and we were able to get out in transition and make plays.”

— Ime Udoka, Head Coach, Boston Celtics

“They're a tough team, especially at home. We just couldn't get enough stops down the stretch to make it a close game. Gotta tip our caps to them and get ready for the playoffs.”

— LaMelo Ball, All-Star Guard, Charlotte Hornets

What’s next

The Celtics will now turn their attention to the NBA Playoffs, where they will likely face the winner of the play-in tournament as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets will need to wait to see if they can avoid the play-in tournament by winning out their remaining games.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Celtics' ability to dominate on both ends of the floor against a talented Hornets team fighting for playoff positioning. Boston's defensive intensity and balanced scoring attack proved too much for Charlotte to overcome, solidifying the Celtics' status as a top contender in the East.