The Boston Celtics reached the 60-win mark for the second straight 12 months and an NBA-record fifteenth time general on Friday, steamrolling the Charlotte Hornets 130-94 to enhance to 60-21. Although the sport had no bearing on the standings or playoff seeding, the Celtics nonetheless made probably the most of it with loads of lighthearted moments. Ahead Jayson Tatum and Derrick White saved issues playful by swapping gear and routines.
Tatum rocked White’s signature white tights, whereas White sported a single leg sleeve like Tatum. White even mirrored Tatum’s full pregame warmup and mimicked his scoring celebrations all through the sport.
“Since we most likely received’t play subsequent sport, (White) mentioned at shootaround this morning (that) we must always do a scarf sport,” mentioned Jayson Tatum in an interview by way of the Boston Herald. “Anyone, one of many trainers, might have talked about if D-White, like, dressed like me throughout the sport. So it was form of like their thought, and I simply agreed to it and ran with it.”
The Celtics overpowering the Hornets
Derrick White paced all Celtics starters with 19 factors on an environment friendly 8-for-12 taking pictures evening, including seven assists, three boards, and 4 blocks. Jayson Tatum contributed 16 factors, eight dimes, and eight rebounds within the win.
Al Horford recorded his sixth double-double since February started, ending with 13 factors and 11 rebounds. Off the bench, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser mixed for 42 factors, taking pictures a scorching 16-for-23 from the ground and 10-for-14 from past the arc.
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In a departure from his regular rotation, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla saved his starters on the ground for 10 straight minutes to open the sport, with Tatum and Jrue Vacation each enjoying your complete quarter.
Celtics ahead Jaylen Brown sat out for the second sport in a row as he continued to handle a lingering knee difficulty, however the Celtics had most of their regulars prepared for what seemed to be their ultimate costume rehearsal earlier than the playoffs. The Hornets, holding the NBA’s third-worst file, performed shorthanded with prime scorers LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller already shut down for the season and Miles Bridges sidelined by a hip harm.
The Celtics ending with a 60-win season
Boston, which completed 64-18 throughout its 2024 championship run, hadn’t recorded back-to-back 60-win seasons for the reason that stretch from 2007 to 2009. The franchise has now hit that milestone in a powerful 19 p.c of its 79 seasons. The one different staff with double-digit 60-win campaigns is the Los Angeles Lakers, who’ve executed it 11 occasions.
When the sport wrapped up, the Celtics lastly noticed their playoff path take form. The Atlanta Hawks secured the No. 8 seed within the East by knocking off the Philadelphia 76ers, organising a Play-In conflict in opposition to the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic on Tuesday in Orlando. The winner earns a first-round matchup with Boston, whereas the loser should face the 9-vs.-10 winner for one final shot at difficult the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Celtics can notch their 61st win in the event that they maintain enterprise in opposition to the Hornets once more in Sunday’s regular-season finale. After that, they’re going to wipe the slate clear and write a brand new goal on the locker room whiteboard — 16 wins, the quantity it takes to seize one other championship.