Preview: Hornets open two-game series against Celtics

What: Charlotte Hornets (2:2) (1:1 at home) vs. Boston Celtics (4:1) (2:1 away)

When: 7:00 p.m. East Coast

Where: Spectrum Center; Charlotte, NC

How to watch: FanDuel Sports Network, NBA League Pass

Equipment: Hornets symbol (teal), Celtics statement (black)

Play lines: Hornets +11.5, O/U 232.5

Injuries:
Hornets: Brandon Miller – questionable (gluteus), Mark Williams – out (foot), DaQuan Jeffries – out (hand)

Celtics: Sam Hauser back (probable), Kristaps Porzingis out (surgery)

The Hornets are subject to a strange quirk in their schedule this weekend. They play two games against the same team on consecutive nights at the same location. It's almost like a baseball series. They will do the same thing again in the final two games of the season, although there will be a day off in between.

The opponent is the defending champion Boston Celtics. They spent an incredible amount of money trying to keep the Championship squad intact (and then put the team up for sale to make the problem for someone else), and it looks like they've picked up right where they were have stopped. They are 4-1 and have the fourth-best net rating entering the season. The only loss came in the last game, a game against the Pacers that went into overtime.

Jayson Tatum was hot from the start, averaging 30.2 points per game, the fifth-best point total in the league. The usual suspects are right behind him – Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday. Payton Pritchard was a flamethrower off the bench.

If you don't like 3 point games, this is not the game for you. Hornets head coach Charles Lee was with the Celtics last year and brought many of their principles to Charlotte. The two teams rank first and fourth in the league in 3-point attempts. They have the second and fifth best offensive stats. It has all the makings of a scorefest, especially when the Hornets defend as well as they did against the Raptors.

The Hornets could bring Brandon Miller back for this game, and he will be a much-needed backup. They need all the firepower they can get to keep up with the Celtics.

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