PREVIEW: The Charlotte Hornets (31-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference) visit the Boston Celtics (41-20, second in the Eastern Conference) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. EST, with Charlotte aiming to extend its five-game winning streak. The Celtics enter as 6.5-point favorites , a reflection of their superior seeding and home-court dominance. Boston boasts a 27-13 record against conference opponents, while Charlotte sits at 19-21 in those same matchups. Despite the talent disparity on paper, the Hornets have quietly built momentum through late-season execution and roster depth. In their last 10 games, the Celtics have gone 8-2 while averaging 109.4 points and shooting 45.7 percent from the field, whereas the Hornets sport a 7-3 mark while averaging 117.3 points and connecting at 45.6 percent. Boston averages 15.5 made three-pointers per game compared to Charlotte's 16.0, highlighting how evenly matched these teams are in perimeter scoring. The Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum due to an Achilles injury, while Coby White remains day-to-day for Charlotte with injury management concerns. This matchup shapes up as a clash between Boston's defensive excellence and Charlotte's offensive firepower, with both teams looking to assert control early and maintain their respective winning trajectories.