Preview: Celtics at Hornets, March 29, 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — The surging Charlotte Hornets, holding firm in the Eastern Conference playoff race, will host the Boston Celtics, who are battling for top seeding, in a pivotal late-season matchup Sunday at Spectrum Center.

The Hornets (39-35) enter on a strong run, having won seven of their last 10 games, including a 114-103 victory over New York on Thursday. They narrowly fell 118-114 to Philadelphia on Saturday despite a 29-point, eight-rebound effort from forward Brandon Miller. Miller has been a catalyst, averaging 21.4 points over his last 10 contests.

Boston (49-24), second in the East, aims to rebound from a stunning 118-89 home loss to these same Hornets just over three weeks ago on March 4. The Celtics are 8-2 in their last 10, most recently defeating Atlanta 109-102 on Friday behind a career-high 36 points from guard Payton Pritchard.

Pritchard has elevated his play dramatically, averaging 18.7 points and 5.1 assists in March. His backcourt battle with Charlotte’s Coby White, who had 16 points in Saturday’s loss, will be key.

Charlotte has been installed as a slight 1.5-point home favorite, with the over/under set at 215.5 points. The game is the first of two meetings between the teams in the final two weeks; they will meet again in Boston on April 7.

For the Celtics, the contest begins a challenging four-game road trip that includes stops in Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee. The Hornets, currently positioned for the play-in tournament, will embark on a three-game trip starting Tuesday in Brooklyn after this matchup.

Boston’s Jayson Tatum, who posted 26 points and 12 rebounds against Atlanta, will be a primary focus for a Charlotte defense that has allowed an average of 108.2 points during its recent 7-3 stretch.

The Hornets will need to contain Boston’s perimeter attack, which ranks among the league’s best, while relying on Miller’s scoring and the interior presence of Moussa Diabate, who notched a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) against Philadelphia.

Sunday’s result could have significant implications for both the playoff picture and potential first-round seeding with less than a month remaining in the regular season.