The Boston Celtics take their strong recent form on the road for a key NBA Cup group stage game against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, November 6. Coming off a 109-102 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on November 4, the Celtics have won four of their last five games. This matchup is the first of the season between the Eastern Conference rivals, with Boston sitting third at 6-2 and Charlotte tenth at 3-6.
Boston's momentum is undeniable. Their recent form reads 4W-1L, with a sequence of WLWWW. That run includes the tight 125-124 win over Brooklyn on October 27 and a dominant 134-99 victory against Chicago the night before. Their only recent blemish was a 109-93 loss in Houston on November 2, but they bounced back immediately against Milwaukee. Last season, they were a force, finishing 56-26 overall and leading the league in several hustle categories like second-chance points.
Injuries could play a role in the rotation. For the Celtics, superstar Jayson Tatum is listed as day to day for rest management, while guard Payton Pritchard (eye) is also day to day. Rookie Devin Carter is out with an illness. The Hornets have their own issue, with forward Grant Williams day to day with a hamstring problem. Charlotte's defense, which allowed 111.2 points per game last season, will be tested by a deep Boston squad that averaged 36.8 bench points in 2025-26. The Celtics' ability to generate 15.8 points off turnovers could be decisive against a Hornets team coming off a low-scoring loss.
This is a major contest in East Group C of the in-season tournament. As of October 31, the Celtics and Wizards led the group at 1-0, with Boston holding a +14 point differential. Charlotte started 0-1 with a -16 differential after a 79-point offensive struggle against Washington. A win for Boston would stays atop the group and put them in a strong spot to advance to the knockout stage. The remaining schedule sees Charlotte face Atlanta and Chicago later in November, making every group game critical.
The Hornets are 2-3 at home this season, while the Celtics are 1-2 on the road. Charlotte will lean on Brandon Miller, who scored 19 in their last Cup game, and big men like Naz Reid. But Boston's collective strength and recent high-level performances make them the favorites. Their offense, which put up 108 points in Orlando and 125 against Chicago in the last week, has multiple weapons. If Tatum plays, his scoring gravity opens up the floor for everyone else. Even if he rests, the Celtics have shown they can win with balance. After this game, Boston's next fixture is a return home, but first they need to handle business in Charlotte to keep their Cup dreams and conference standing on track.
