November 5, 2026 at 6:53 AM UTC
Pregame AnalysisCeltics Look to Lean on Early-Season Form Against Searching Hornets
Boston's strong start and Charlotte's offensive struggles point to a Celtics win, even with Jayson Tatum's status in question.
This page is the pregame analysis. The box score is the main page for the game, and the matchup history collects every meeting between these teams.
Boston arrives in good form. Previews have the Celtics at 6-1, and Paul George has played well since the Jaylen Brown trade, which suggests the reshaped roster has settled in quickly. The biggest question is Jayson Tatum. He is back from an Achilles injury and averaging 27.0 points, but he is listed out for rest. He also sat out the Bucks game for rest after playing every game this season, and more rest days are possible in the busy early schedule. His absence would cost the Celtics their top scorer.
Boston's backcourt is also thin. Devin Carter has missed every game with mononucleosis, and Payton Pritchard is questionable with an eye issue. If Pritchard can't go, the Celtics will have to reshuffle their guard minutes, and that is the clearest place Charlotte could find an opening.
The Hornets still have to solve their own problems first. They were 3-4 and on a three-game losing streak before Nov. 2, and they failed to reach 100 points in four of eight games. Opponents have found that the offense stalls once the first pick-and-roll option is taken away. Coby White's return gives them a guard who can create shots. He made his season debut against Detroit on Nov. 2 after missing seven games with a calf injury. Kon Knueppel is out with a leg injury and still hasn't played this season, so White will have to carry much of that creation load.
I expect Boston to be the steadier team. Even without Tatum, the Celtics have more reliable offense, and Charlotte has not shown it can consistently score against a defense that takes away its first read. White gives the Hornets a chance to keep this competitive, but I think they fall just short of the 100-point mark again. Prediction: Celtics 107, Hornets 98.