Defense is key as streaking Celtics host red-hot Hornets
The Boston Celtics will enter their matchup on Wednesday night against the visiting Charlotte Hornets having won 12 of their past 14 games.
Boston has been getting the job done with defense and depth.
The Celtics overcame the absences of leading scorer Jaylen Brown (illness) and starting center Neemias Queta (rest) on Monday in their 108-81 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Boston has surrendered fewer than 100 points in nine of its past 13 wins and is allowing an average of 107.0 points per game this season -- the fewest of any NBA team.
Brown, who is averaging a team-high 29.0 points per game, has missed seven games this season. The Celtics are 6-1 in those seven contests, however.
"It just starts with the guys," Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. "It goes back to the beginning of the season. One of the strengths of the locker room has always been being able to win games when guys were out. We've sat guys over the last three or four years and still have been able to win games.
"It's just them. I think Brad (general manager Brad Stevens) does a great job of finding guys that have high competitive character. I think when you come into the locker room, you want to play for the guy next to you. And then you're looking for nights to create ownership and responsibility."
Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score a game-high 25 points in Monday's win against Milwaukee. Rookie Hugo Gonzalez made his third career start and contributed 18 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.
"We've just got our standard and we want to maintain it every single game," Gonzalez said. "We don't like to make excuses."
"I think it's the staff holding us accountable," Pritchard said. "But I also think it's Brad, too, getting players that he knows loves to play basketball and will be ready for every moment possible. So it's a characteristic trait."
Charlotte extended its winning streak to five games by beating Dallas 117-90 on Tuesday night.
The Hornets have won 15 of their past 18 games to move to .500 (31-31) for the first time since Oct. 28, when they were 2-2.
"Overall, really happy with the total team effort on both ends of the floor," Charlotte coach Charles Lee said. "To hold a team under 100 again, to win every quarter -- it's a testament to our guys and the consistency that they showed with their competitive spirit.
"We're seeing the fruits of our labor. We're getting better and better in a lot of different areas. ... I'm really proud with the growth that we're making. We're getting a lot of contributions from guys at different moments of the game and it's helping us a ton."
Brandon Miller scored a team-high 17 points against the Mavericks and has been Charlotte's leading scorer in each of the past four games.
The game on Wednesday is the first of three meetings between the teams. Boston will play at Charlotte on March 29, and the Hornets will visit the Celtics on April 7.