The Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 119-80 on Friday, November 6, 2026, led by Jayson Tatum’s 34 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Boston built a 31-point halftime lead at Spectrum Center and made 24 three-pointers to secure the NBA Cup group-play victory.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Celtics Take a 40-20 Lead
Boston established control immediately, outscoring Charlotte 40-20 in the opening quarter. That 20-point advantage gave the Celtics a substantial cushion and left the Hornets needing a sustained response over the remaining three periods.
Second Quarter: Boston Extends the Margin
The Celtics maintained their scoring advantage with a 30-19 second quarter, taking a 70-39 lead into halftime. Boston’s first-half total alone was just 10 points short of Charlotte’s eventual full-game output.
Third Quarter: Lead Reaches 39
Boston outscored Charlotte 26-18 after the break to move ahead 96-57. The Hornets had scored fewer than 20 points in consecutive quarters, while the Celtics entered the fourth with a 39-point lead.
Fourth Quarter: Teams Finish Even
Both teams scored 23 points in the final period, leaving the margin unchanged. Boston completed the 119-80 road win in regulation before an announced crowd of 19,586.
Key Performers
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics: Led all scorers with 34 points and paced Boston with eight rebounds and nine assists, finishing one assist shy of a double-double.
- Naz Reid, Hornets: Led Charlotte with 14 points and added six rebounds.
- Hannes Steinbach, Hornets: Collected a game-high 11 rebounds.
- Christian Anderson, Hornets: Led Charlotte with five assists.
NerdSports Stat: Both teams scored exactly 47 points from two-point baskets and free throws combined. Boston’s 72-33 advantage in three-point scoring accounted for the entire 39-point final margin.
Game Analysis: Three-Point Efficiency Separates Boston
The biggest difference was beyond the arc. Boston made 24 of 44 three-point attempts, shooting 54.5%, while Charlotte finished 11-for-50 at 22.0%. The Celtics made 13 more threes despite taking six fewer attempts.
Charlotte’s difficulties extended across its offense. The Hornets shot 29.3% overall, making 27 of 92 attempts, compared with Boston’s 38-for-83 performance at 45.8%. Charlotte generated more field-goal attempts but could not turn that volume into enough points to stay close.
Boston also finished with 33 assists to Charlotte’s 18, with Tatum contributing nine. The Celtics held a 51-43 rebounding advantage and made 19 of 23 free throws. Charlotte was efficient at the line, converting 15 of 17, but that was not enough to offset the shooting gap.
The quarter-by-quarter results showed how steadily Boston built its advantage: a 20-point edge in the first, another 11 in the second and eight more in the third. Charlotte never won a quarter.
What’s Next for the Celtics and Hornets?
Boston improved to 7-2 overall and 2-2 on the road, adding an NBA Cup group-play win. Charlotte fell to 3-7 overall and 2-4 at home. The Celtics next face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, November 8, at 5:00 p.m. PST, while the Hornets host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, November 9, at 4:00 p.m. PST.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 119-80 on November 6, 2026.
Jayson Tatum scored 34 points. His individual shooting percentage was not included in the supplied game statistics.
After the win, Boston sits at 7-2 in the Eastern Conference. Its exact conference position was not provided.
Jayson Tatum was the standout performer with 34 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, leading Boston in all three categories.
