Boston Celtics vs CHA Hornets Match Guide: NBA Preseason
The Boston Celtics put their perfect NBA preseason record on the line Wednesday night when the banged-up CHA Hornets visit TD Garden for a 7:30 PM ET tip-off. This Match Guide has been updated on game day with the latest injury news — and it's significant. Here's everything you need before the ball goes up in Boston.
Match at a Glance
- Fixture: Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets
- Competition: NBA Preseason 2026
- Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- Tip-off: 7:30 PM ET (00:30 BST Thursday)
- Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
- Tickets: From $26 resale; average around $160
- Preseason form: Celtics 2-0 | Hornets 1-1
Tonight's Key Fixtures
Boston has looked sharp through two exhibitions while Charlotte, already missing its two lead guards, plays the middle game of a preseason road trip that ends in Memphis on Friday.
| Match | ET Time |
|---|---|
| Nets vs Heat | 7:30 PM |
| Celtics vs Hornets | 7:30 PM |
| Spurs vs Suns | 8:00 PM |
| Bulls vs Bucks | 8:00 PM |
| Nuggets vs Clippers | 10:00 PM |
Star Watch
Brandon Miller — Hornets
The timing is brutal for Charlotte. With Kon Knueppel and Coby White both sidelined, the entire offensive burden lands on Miller for the first time — the same responsibility LaMelo Ball carried before this summer's blockbuster trades. Miller averaged 19.4 points over his final ten games of 2025-26; tonight is his first true audition as a franchise No. 1 option.
Jayson Tatum — Celtics
Fully cleared of the Achilles management that once clouded his season, Tatum has been efficient in limited preseason minutes. Expect another 20-25 minute sample of mid-post scoring and transition punch — Boston won't push him past that in October.
Jaylen Brown — Celtics
The 28.6-points-per-game scorer from last season has picked up right where he left off. With Charlotte's perimeter defense thinned out, Brown's downhill attacks could set the tone early.
Matchup Analysis
Boston arrives 2-0 in the preseason after opening the slate against Philadelphia, and the depth chart looks healthy. Derrick White, Tatum and offseason addition Paul George give Joe Mazzulla three elite perimeter defenders to throw at whoever Charlotte improvises at the point. Continuity is Boston's real edge: 54 wins last season, second in the East, with virtually the entire rotation back.
Charlotte sits 1-1, having split its opening exhibitions. The season-long story hasn't changed — a rebuilt roster around Miller, Naz Reid, Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, plus rookies Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson — but tonight's guard crisis accelerates everything. Expect heavy minutes for rookie ball-handlers and a lot of Miller initiating offense against one of the league's smartest defenses.
Head-to-head (2025-26): Boston won the regular-season series 2-1: 118-89 Charlotte in March, then 114-99 and 113-102 Celtics in the final month. That said, the Hornets hung a 29-point loss on Boston in this building last spring — TD Garden guarantees nothing.
Prediction: Celtics 116, Hornets 109. The market agrees — Boston is a heavy -299 moneyline favorite — and the guard injuries make Charlotte's path narrow. Bet the Celtics with confidence at 70%, per our model; the only preseason caveat is fourth-quarter lineups nobody can predict.
How to Watch
| Region | Broadcast | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA (Boston) | NBCS-BOS | 7:30 PM ET local broadcast |
| USA (National) | NBA League Pass | All preseason games |
| UK / Intl | NBA League Pass | 00:30 BST Thursday |
| Radio | 98.5 The Sports Hub | Celtics Radio Network |
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FAQ
Q: Is Celtics vs Hornets on October 14 a regular-season game? A: No — it's an NBA preseason game at TD Garden, tip-off 7:30 PM ET.
Q: Who is out for the Hornets tonight? A: Kon Knueppel and Coby White are sidelined, putting the offense squarely on Brandon Miller's shoulders.
Q: What is Boston's preseason record? A: The Celtics are 2-0 entering tonight; Charlotte is 1-1.
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