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Boston Celtics head to Charlotte to face the Hornets in the first night of a back-to-back

By Tom Wade

BOSTON - DECEMBER 23: Celtics Marcus Smart retains possession of the ball as Hornets Jeremy Lamb (R) reaches in during the third quarter of play at TD Garden in Boston on Dec. 23, 2018. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - DECEMBER 23: Celtics Marcus Smart retains possession of the ball as Hornets Jeremy Lamb (R) reaches in during the third quarter of play at TD Garden in Boston on Dec. 23, 2018. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics take on the Charlotte Hornets tonight at the Spectrum Center, looking to put an end to a two-game losing streak and apply more pressure on the Indiana Pacers in the battle for the third seed in the Eastern Conference.

Boston comes into the game off a tough 115-118 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers and will be hoping they can find a way past a Hornets team who are fighting for their playoff lives. The team will be without big men Al Horford (knee) and Aron Baynes (ankle) for the game, so it remains to be seen who head coach Brad Stevens will give the nod to at the Center spot for the C’s. However, the most likely candidate is Daniel Theis.

Theis has made two starts already this season for the Celtics, and the team are also 2-0 when he has had his number called upon. The 26-year-old forward has averaged 14.0 points per game, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in the two games he started.

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Another player who is set to miss tonight game is Gordon Hayward, the Celtics forward still remains under the NBA’s Concussion Protocol. Hayward will miss his third straight game after he took a heavy blow to the head against the Atlanta Hawks back on March 16.

As mentioned, Charlotte is a team fighting for their playoff lives and they come into the game 2.5 games back of the eight seed Miami Heat, so they will be in desperate need of a win. The Hornets have won just four of their last six games and have a road record of 10-24, so it’s fair to say the team’s struggles have come mainly on the road this season.

Charlotte did, however, win their last game out against the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-106, thanks to another big performance from All-Star point guard Kemba Walker. He finished with 31 points, five rebounds, six assists, and shot 10-of-22 from the field as he led his team to a much-needed win.

The Hornets, like the Celtics, are also playing on the first night of a back-to-back, as they will play the Toronto Raptors tomorrow night on the road. Charlotte will be without center Cody Zeller, who will miss the game with left knee soreness and also have a player of their own in the NBA Concussion Protocol, as Michael Kid-Gilchrist will miss his second straight game after he took a big hit to the head in a recent game against Philadelphia.

Tonight’s game will be the last meeting on the year between the two teams, with the Celtics hoping to even the season series after Charlotte claimed two of the previous three meetings to lead it 2-1. In the most recent game between the teams on January 30, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics in a 126-94 win at the TD Garden with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Jayson Tatum also helped himself to 20 and five, along with a strong performance from Terry Rozier, who started the game that night and registered 17 points, five rebounds, a game-high 10 assists, and three steals.

Win Probability

The Celtics have a 64% chance of winning tonight game against Charlotte, according to fivethirtyeight.com.

Predicted Starters

Celtics: Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris, Daniel Theis.

Charlotte: Kemba Walker, Dwayne Bacon, Miles Bridges, Marvin Williams, Bismack Biyombo.

Next. Celtics sign Greg Monroe to 10-day contract. dark

Ways to Watch/Listen

TV:  NBC Sports Boston.

Radio: WROR 105.7 (FM).

Tip-Off Time: 6:00pm ET.

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