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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
BOSTON (AP) – Charlotte's scouting report showed that the Boston
Celtics struggle against high-scoring opponents. That revelation
made the Hornets go on the offensive.
Jamal Mashburn scored 27 points, including 16 in Charlotte's
39-point first-quarter outburst, as the Hornets beat Boston 116-97
Sunday, ending the Celtics' seven-game home winning streak.
|  | | Antoine Walker, right, loses out on a rebound to Charlotte's Eddie Robinson. Walker led the Celtics with 27 points. |
The Hornets, who entered the game ranked 25th in the league in
scoring at 90.2 points per game, came out firing and never let up.
"We know we can play defense," said Baron Davis, who finished
with 24 points. "Our problem has been scoring.
"We got 39 in the first quarter. Our goal is to get only 25 a
quarter. We were into putting a lot of points on the board."
David Wesley scored 22 points and had eight assists for the
Hornets, who won their seventh straight and for the ninth time in
10 games. P.J. Brown had 12 points and 15 rebounds before fouling
out early in the fourth quarter.
"It all hinges on our ability to make shots," Charlotte coach
Paul Silas said. "If we do, we can play with anybody in the
East."
Entering the game, the Hornets were ranked third in the league
in defense. It was their offense that was the difference against
Boston, which is 4-21 when its opponents score 100 or more points.
"They have a good inside-outside game. They took it to us,"
Boston's Antoine Walker said.
Walker scored 27 points and Paul Pierce 24 for the Celtics, who
lost their first home game since Jan. 12, interim coach Jim
O'Brien's third game. The seven-game run was the Celtics' longest
winning streak at the FleetCenter since the building opened for the
1995-96 season.
Boston made nine of its first 12 field-goal attempts, and
Charlotte shot 8-for-12 in the first quarter.
After that, the Celtics couldn't keep up.
"We made some adjustments in our defense," Mashburn said.
"When you're playing, you really don't notice how well you're
(shooting)."
The Hornets used a 7-0 run midway through the opening quarter
for a 39-32 lead after one. Mashburn, who had 16 points in the
period, had four during the run.
The Hornets, who shot 70 percent in the first quarter, used an
8-0 run early in the second quarter to push their lead to 51-40.
They maintained a double-digit lead and held a 64-48 advantage at
halftime.
The Hornets' lead never fell below double digits the rest of the
game.
The Hornets built their lead to 22 points four times in the
third quarter and led 90-68 after three periods.
The closest the Celtics came in the final quarter was 12.
Game notes
Charlotte shot 14-for-20 in the first quarter. ... Under
O'Brien, the Celtics are 8-3 at the FleetCenter and 14-12 overall.
... Entering the game, Mashburn was averaging 20.5 points, 10.1
rebounds and 6.3 assists since the All-Star break. ... Pierce had
15 points in the first 7:36, but was held scoreless for the rest of
the half.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Charlotte Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 98
New York 88
Charlotte 116
Boston 97
Detroit 93
Orlando 84
New Jersey 120
Indiana 96
Utah 118
Washington 98
Minnesota 119
Seattle 111
Miami 91
Cleveland 79
LA Lakers 110
Golden State 95
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