Celtics center Robert Williams sets a screen on Hornets forward Cody Martin for Malcolm Brogdon during the first half of their game Saturday in Charlotte, N.C. Brogdon scored 30 points in a 122-106 victory. Scott Kinser/Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jayson Tatum scored 17 of his 33 points in a pivotal third quarter, Malcolm Brogdon added 30 points and the Boston Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets 122-106 on Saturday night to push their winning streak to six.
Al Horford had 16 points and Marcus Smart added 13 points and 12 assists for the Celtics, who made 19 3-pointers and erased a 16-point, first-half deficit.
LaMelo Ball finished with 31 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for Charlotte. Terry Rozier scored 21 points for the Hornets, who have lost seven of their last eight.
Tatum, who had 35 points in a 140-105 rout of the Hornets on Nov. 28, shook off a slow start and an early technical foul and finished 12 of 27 from the field. The crowd at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center periodically erupted into chants of “MVP! MVP!” after Tatum wowed with a variety of special plays, including deep 3-pointers, driving dunks and fallaway jumpers.
The Hornets shot 57.8% in the first half and led by 16 before the Celtics came storming back late in the second quarter to cut the lead to 66-62 behind 12 3-pointers in the first half.
Boston began to pull away in the third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 33-19. Tatum was 7 of 12 from the field, including four 3-pointers.
TIP INS
Celtics: Derrick White started fast with eight points in the first four minutes before leaving the game because of a neck sprain after colliding with Smart. … Tatum picked up a technical foul in the first quarter for arguing a call.
Hornets: Mason Plumlee had 16 rebounds.
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