Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown was impressed by the No. 9 seed Charlotte Hornets after Tuesday night\u2019s matchup at TD Garden. In fact, he said it was almost like going up against a much younger version of the C\u2019s.<\/p>\n
In a potential first-round playoff preview, it took a come-from-behind rally for the Celtics to overcome the NBA\u2019s third-youngest team. Ten days ago in Charlotte, Boston clinched a playoff berth without Brown and Derrick White. This time, to close out the regular-season series, the Celtics prevailed with a 113-102 victory<\/a>, leaving Brown taking note of Charlotte\u2019s (awfully familiar) young core before a possible postseason reunion.<\/p>\n \u201cThis team kind of reminds me of us when we were younger,\u201d Brown told NBC\u2019s Ashley ShahAhmadi. \u201cYoung group, shoot the ball well, got a lot of different guys that can beat you, and have a fearlessness. So they came out ready to play.\u201d<\/p>\n Coming off a win over the Toronto Raptors \u2014 another possible playoff foe \u2014 on Sunday, the Celtics knew opponents would bring a greater sense of urgency in the final weeks of the regular season. The Hornets sit just half a game behind the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, which is the difference between the ninth seed and the sixth seed. Charlotte also trails Toronto by 1\u00bd games with two left to play, which could determine whether they enter the play-in tournament or punch a first-round ticket against the New York Knicks.<\/p>\n So Brown wasn\u2019t surprised by how the Hornets came out.<\/p>\n \u201cGive credit to Charlotte,\u201d Brown told reporters, per CLNS Media<\/a>. \u201cI think it was a must-win game for them, and they came out like it. They came out trying to blow up screens. They came out playing with a different intensity level than we did to start the game.\u201d<\/p>\n In the first quarter, the Hornets outscored the Celtics, 31-20, by sinking 7-of-17 3-point attempts. Boston struggled to keep up as Charlotte\u2019s LaMelo Ball began taking over.<\/p>\n Ball finished with a game-high 36 points, shooting 12-of-14 with six 3-pointers. Several of his makes were 2K-esque, including his 35-foot stepback three<\/a> over White and a forward-leaning three in the final minute of the first half.<\/p>\n Brown was stunned at how second-nature Ball\u2019s trick shots were, as he constantly fired away with confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cLaMelo was playing unbelievable, making some unbelievable shots,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n Behind Ball\u2019s masterclass, the Hornets were dangerous for nearly three quarters. Charlotte made as many first-half 3-pointers (13) as their two-point attempts, beating the Celtics at their own game. It felt as though in the blink of an eye, Ball was able to dribble across half court and find a quality 3-point look as the Hornets attempted 42 entering the fourth quarter \u2014 they attempt 43.1 per game this season.<\/p>\n