Celtics vs. Hornets
Celtics Rout Hornets 119-80 as Jayson Tatum Scores 34 in NBA Cup Play
The Boston Celtics routed the Charlotte Hornets 119-80 on Friday night, Nov. 6, 2026, at Spectrum Center in an NBA Cup group-stage game, according to the Associated Press and the Celtics’ official site. Jayson Tatum had 34 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in just 29 minutes, and Derrick White added 18 points.
Boston improved to 7-2 overall and 2-0 in NBA Cup play, winning for the seventh time in eight games, AP reported. Charlotte fell to 3-7, 0-2 in the Cup, and has lost six straight.
A first quarter that decided it
Tatum and Paul George opened the game with back-to-back 3-pointers, and the Celtics’ early 6-0 lead grew to 16-4 and then 40-20 after one quarter, the Celtics’ site reported. Tatum scored 18 points in the opening period, tying his career high for a first quarter and outscoring Charlotte’s entire starting five by himself, 18-16.
Boston made 9 of 17 3-pointers in the first quarter and 17 of 31 in the first half, which tied a franchise record for 3-pointers in a half. White scored all 18 of his points before halftime. The lead eventually reached 46 points.
Celtics vs. Hornets player stats
| Player | Team | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jayson Tatum | BOS | 34 | 9-of-16 FG, 5-of-8 3PT, 11-of-11 FT, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, +36 |
| Derrick White | BOS | 18 | All in the first half |
| Payton Pritchard | BOS | 12 | Off the bench |
| Naz Reid | CHA | 14 | Hornets’ leading scorer |
| Tidjane Salaun | CHA | 13 | — |
| Sion James | CHA | 11 | — |
As a team, Boston shot 24 of 44 (54.5%) from 3-point range. Charlotte shot 29.3% from the field, and no Hornets player scored more than 14 points, according to the Celtics’ recap.
Why point differential mattered
Tatum stayed in the game until the final minute of the third quarter with Boston up 42, as the Celtics padded their point differential, AP noted. Point differential is a key tiebreaker in NBA Cup group play, and Boston has outscored its first two Cup opponents by a combined 53 points, the team said.
AP also described a moment late in Tatum’s night: he drew “MVP!” chants from a pro-Celtics crowd after swishing a 33-foot 3-pointer while appearing to be fouled, but the basket was waved off when officials ruled the foul happened on the floor.
Hornets’ injuries and losing streak
Charlotte played without starters Kon Knueppel and Moussa Diabate, and Brandon Miller left in the second quarter with right groin soreness and did not return, AP reported. Miller was 3 of 10 for eight points before exiting.
Coach Charles Lee did not give a timetable for Knueppel, last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year runner-up, who reinjured his hamstring Wednesday at Brooklyn in his first game of the season. AP said the six-game skid began after Lee benched Reid, the team’s biggest offseason addition, in the second half of a game against Detroit for not meeting “team standards.”
Miller’s status for the Hornets’ next game had not been announced as of early Saturday.
What’s next
- Celtics: at Milwaukee on Sunday night.
- Hornets: host Cleveland on Monday night.
For where to watch upcoming games, check the teams’ official schedules and local listings, which carry the latest TV and streaming details.
FAQ
What was the final score of Celtics vs. Hornets?
Boston won 119-80 on Nov. 6, 2026, in Charlotte.
Who led the Celtics?
Jayson Tatum with 34 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Derrick White scored 18.
Was this an NBA Cup game?
Yes. It was a group-stage game, and Boston is 2-0 in Cup play.