Everything you need to know for the Boston Celtics' road game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 29, 2026: where to watch, listen, stream info, TV channel, and what happened last game.
The last time the Boston Celtics (49-24) saw the Charlotte Hornets (39-35), everything that could go wrong…did.
Boston walked into that matchup rolling - winners of 12 of 14, defending at an elite level, and starting to look like a team rounding into postseason form.
Then Charlotte flipped the script entirely.
A fast start turned into a runaway, and what followed was the Celtics’ most lopsided loss of the season, a 118-89 wake-up call that never really offered a path back.
There was context, of course.
That night, Boston was still navigating life without Jayson Tatum, leaning heavily on Jaylen Brown to carry the offense.
This time around, the roles have flipped.
Tatum is back and available, still working his way toward peak form, but Brown will be the one watching from the sidelines as he manages left Achilles tendinitis.
It’s a subtle but significant shift, and one that adds an interesting layer to Sunday night’s rematch.
Because for all of Boston’s success this season - and it’s been considerable, sitting firmly in the No. 2 seed in the East - the Hornets have quietly become a problem.
That earlier blowout wasn’t just a one-off. It was part of a larger surge that has pushed Charlotte into legitimate playoff contention, powered by pace, spacing, and a confident young core that has given the Celtics issues on both ends.
For Boston, this game is less about revenge and more about response.
The Celtics have shown they can win in a variety of ways this season, even shorthanded.
They just did it two nights ago against Atlanta, grinding out a comeback without Brown behind a total team effort. But Sunday presents a different challenge - one that already exposed some cracks earlier this month.
Different star, same test.
And this time, the Celtics will be looking to prove that the result can be different, too.
How to Watch Celtics vs. Hornets
Charlotte Hornets at Boston Celtics Information
Game Date: March 29, 2026
Game Time: 6:00 PM ET
TV Channel: NBC Sports Boston (Boston) & FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (Charlotte)
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub (Boston) & WFNZ 92.7 FM (Charlotte)
Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Live Stream: Fubo, NBA League Pass
Mar 4, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) controls the ball while Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) defends during the second half at TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara/Imagn Images)Missed any of Friday night’s win over Atlanta (42-33)? Here’s everything you need to know:
1. Payton Pritchard Carried Offense:
With Brown sidelined and Jayson Tatum struggling to find his shot early, Pritchard became the engine that kept everything afloat.
He poured in 36 points on 13 of 23 shooting, including 6 of 11 from three, and completely changed the game’s trajectory before halftime.
His 19 first-half points erased most of Atlanta’s early cushion, mixing pull-up threes with aggressive drives that kept Boston within striking distance.
On a night where the Celtics needed someone to stabilize things, Pritchard didn’t just do that.
He took over.
2. Celtics’ Second-Half Defense Won It:
Once Boston settled in, the tone shifted defensively.
After getting carved up early, the Celtics tightened the screws in the second half, highlighted by an 18-4 third-quarter run that gave them control for good.
Atlanta’s ball movement stalled, clean looks disappeared, and the game slowed into Boston’s preferred style.
Against a Hawks team that entered riding a 14-of-15 stretch, that adjustment mattered.
3. Jayson Tatum Found Other Ways:
It wasn’t a pretty shooting night for Tatum. Far from it.
He opened with 5 points on 4 of 14 shooting and never fully found a rhythm from the perimeter.
But this version of Tatum has been about more than scoring.
He finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists, doing most of his damage late by getting to the free-throw line and controlling the glass.
Even on an off night, he still dictated winning plays.
4. Depth Continues To Matter:
No Brown.
Limited shot-making early.
A 16-point hole.
And still, Boston won.
Jordan Walsh gave productive minutes.
The bench steadied things.
The stars closed it.
That’s what makes this version of the Celtics dangerous - they don’t need a perfect script to beat good teams.
They just need enough time to figure it out.
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.