Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball help Hornets stun Celtics in overtime

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Miles Bridges made the most of his first NBA start in 586 days.

Bridges made a 3-pointer with 6.6 seconds left in regulation and the Charlotte Hornets ended a six-game streak with an incredible 121-118 victory over the red-hot Boston Celtics on Monday night.

LaMelo Ball finished with 36 points, 9 rebounds and eight assists, and Gordon Hayward added 20 points for the Hornets, who fought back from an 18-point deficit to end Boston’s six-game winning streak.

LaMelo Ball was off during the Hornets’ overtime victory against the Celtics!

🔥 36PTS
🔥9 CER
🔥 8 AST
🔥 5:30 p.m. pic.twitter.com/e054xk7k0z

-NBA (@NBA) November 21, 2023

Jayson Tatum had 45 points, but missed a free throw with 5.2 seconds remaining that could have tied the game after he was fouled on a 3-point shot. He made the first two before missing the third.

“I couldn’t believe he missed that last one, but we bought the win and that’s all that matters,” Bridges said.

Tatum couldn’t think of it either.

“Was I stunned? Yeah, I was surprised,” he said. “It felt good, I just didn’t get into it.” »

Jayson Tatum lost a SEASON-HIGH 4⃣5⃣ PTS in an out-of-regulation battle in Charlotte 😤

45 points
13 REC
6 AST
7 p.m. 3 p.m. pic.twitter.com/8IbGxvZ9vM

-NBA (@NBA) November 21, 2023

He was very upset that the Celtics gave up an 11-point lead with six minutes remaining.

“Now we have to regroup,” Tatum said. “We’ve won six in a row and it’s easy to get complacent and we paid for it tonight.”

After Tatum missed, the Celtics fouled Hayward, who made two free throws to put Charlotte up three with 0.8 to play. Bridges stole the rebounds to seal the victory.

Mark Williams finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds for Charlotte. Coach Steve Clifford called it his biggest game since joining the Hornets.

Clifford said it was an important victory for his team, but added that “this league is not going to be an important victory. it’s about can we come back and play well on Wednesday night?

Peyton Pritchard had 21 points on 5 3s for Boston, which had its six-game winning streak snapped.

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, left, shoots the ball for a score under pressure from Boston Celtics guard Jrue Vacation during out-of-regulation periods during an NBA basketball game, Monday 20 November 2023, in Charlotte, North Carolina (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Clifford said the decision to replace PJ Washington with Bridges in the starting lineup was something that had been in the works for weeks. Charlotte also needed a spark after losing its last four games.

Bridges had averaged 18 points in his first two games after missing all of last season and the first 10 games of this year while serving a 10-game suspension for his role in a domestic violence case.

Bridges didn’t shoot the ball well, but finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds while playing a team-high 45 minutes.

Tatum tied a career high with 31 points in the first half and Pritchard added 4 3s as the Celtics built a 65-54 lead at the break.

But Charlotte cut the score in half with 22 seconds left when Williams corralled an offensive rebound.

Jrue Vacation was fouled on the next possession and had a chance to make it a two-possession game, but missed both free throws with 10.3 seconds left, giving the Hornets a chance to tie or win the match.

The ball got the lead inbounds, headed to the basket and scored to tie the game with 7.2 seconds remaining.

Sam Houser had a chance to win it late in regulation, but missed at the buzzer.

It was another big performance for Ball, who is averaging 32 points over his last eight games.

The former All-Star was big on time beyond regulation, scoring on a left-handed layup off the glass to give Charlotte the lead. With the game tied, Ball found Bridges on the left wing for an open look and the southpaw kicked the go-ahead 3 to break the tie.

“I’m a little healthier and have a few games under my belt,” said Ball, who was limited to 36 games last year due to ankle injuries. “My game finally won there and I feel better now.”

FOLLOWING

Celtics: Return home to face Milwaukee on Wednesday night.

Hornets: The Hornets finish a five-game homestand Wednesday night against Washington.