Celtics beat Hornets, overcome LaMelo Ball's career-best 38 points

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Josh Richardson made six 3-pointers and scored 23 points, Jayson Tatum hit two key free throws and finished with 19 points and the Boston Celtics held off the Charlotte Hornets 113-107 on Wednesday night, overcoming a career-best 38 points by LaMelo Ball.

Marcus Smart scored 22 points and Jaylen Brown 15 as Boston won its third straight.

"We’ve dealt with adversity and not always ended up the best," Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. "Tonight we handled it well. We were able to make big plays down the stretch."

Terry Rozier scored 23 points, P.J. Washington 16, Kelly Oubre Jr. 15, and Mason Plumlee had 17 rebounds for the Hornets, who have lost four of six.

"We know these Eastern Conference teams are fighting for (playoff) spots, just like we are," Rozier said. "It's going to be tough games, just like tonight."

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives on Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The Hornets are in seventh place in the East, a half-game ahead of Boston and Toronto.

Boston shot 14 for 36 from 3-point range and Charlotte made 12 of 40 from long distance.

Rozier’s 3-pointer from the top of the key tied it at 107 with 62 seconds left.

Tatum then hit two free throws and, after Robert Williams III blocked Washington’s 3-point attempt, Smart hit two free throws with 15.6 seconds to play.

"It's just believing in everyone and trusting in the system that we have on both ends of the floor," Smart said of Boston's composure at the end. "It's trusting the game plan, the scheme ...