Boston’s Payton Pritchard heads back on defense after making a 3-pointer Friday against the Charlotte Hornets. In the absence of all five starters and top reserve Al Horford, Pritchard led the Celtics to a 131-98 win. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
BOSTON — Payton Prichard scored a career-high 31 points and the Boston Celtics rolled to a 131-98 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.
Pritchard added 11 assists for his second double-double this season and helped the Celtics avoid losing three consecutive games for the first timE.
Luke Kornet finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta also had 16 points for Boston, which led by as many as 33.
Boston’s top six rotation players – Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford – all sat out with nagging ailments in what was essentially a rest night for them. Boston has already locked up the top seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
They likely will get another rest day Sunday when Boston concludes its regular season against Washington.
Tre Mann led the Hornets with 19 points and eight assists. Nick Smith Jr. added 15 points.
The absences gave the Celtics the opportunity to give some playing time to rookie Jordan Walsh and call up two-way players Queta, JD Davison and Drew Peterson from the G League to fill in, a night after they all played with Maine at Oklahoma City in Game 2 the G League Finals. Maine hosts the Oklahoma City Blue the deciding game of the finals Monday night at the Portland Expo.
The Hornets have been eliminated from playoff contention since March 23 and played without former Celtic Grant Williams, who was listed out with a sprained right ankle, and Nick Richards (right plantar fascia).
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