Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets Guide: NBA Preseason Clash
The Boston Celtics welcome the CHA Hornets to TD Garden on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in what promises to be one of the most intriguing NBA preseason games of the week. This complete Match Guide breaks down tip-off time, a radically rebuilt Charlotte roster, last season's head-to-head, and our prediction — as both teams sharpen up before the 2026-27 regular season.
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 around $28–$58 on resale markets
Tonight's Key Fixtures
Boston's home preseason slate continues after hosting Philadelphia on October 10, while Charlotte — beaten 124-90 by Brooklyn on October 6 — plays the middle game of a road back-to-back that ends in Memphis on October 16.
| Match | ET Time |
|---|---|
| Pistons vs Timberwolves | TBD |
| Nets vs Heat | 7:30 PM |
| Celtics vs Hornets | 7:30 PM |
| Bulls vs Bucks | 8:00 PM |
| Suns vs Spurs | 9:00 PM |
| Nuggets vs Clippers | 10:00 PM |
Star Watch
Brandon Miller — Hornets
With LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges traded away in a seismic offseason, this is Miller's team now. He averaged 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists over his final ten games of 2025-26 and every preseason minute is about building chemistry with new point guard Coby White and rookie Kon Knueppel.
Jayson Tatum — Celtics
Back to his All-NBA self after last season's injury-shortened campaign, Tatum dropped 32 points on this very Hornets team in March. Expect a controlled workload — 20-25 minutes — but vintage shot-making while he's out there.
Payton Pritchard — Celtics
The reigning Sixth Man energy: Pritchard averaged 17.0 points per game last season and remains the engine of Boston's second unit. Preseason is where he builds the pick-and-roll rhythm that carried the Celtics to 54 wins.
Matchup Analysis
Boston closed 2025-26 at 54-25, second in the Eastern Conference, built on the league's third-best three-point volume (15.2 made per game at 36.4%). Their rotation is largely intact, which matters in October: continuity beats experimentation more often than not.
Charlotte is the great unknown. The Hornets went 43-37 — their best season in a decade — but then blew up the core. Out went Ball and Bridges; in came Naz Reid, Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale, plus rookies Hannes Steinbach (No. 14) and Christian Anderson (No. 18). Coach Charles Lee has two road games to knit it together before the real thing.
Head-to-head (2025-26): Charlotte actually took the most recent meeting — a stunning 118-89 blowout in March — but Boston won the season series 2-1, including a 114-99 win on March 29 (Tatum 32) and a 113-102 victory on April 7.
Prediction: Celtics 116, Hornets 109. Depth and continuity tell over 48 preseason minutes, though Charlotte's athleticism should keep it closer than the blowouts of last spring. Rotation news is the X-factor — check starting fives before tip.
How to Watch
| Region | Broadcast | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA (Boston) | NBCS-BOS | Local TV, 7:30 PM ET |
| USA (National) | NBA League Pass | All preseason games |
| UK / Intl | NBA League Pass | 00:30 BST Thursday |
| Radio | Celtics Radio Network | 98.5 The Sports Hub |
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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. Charlotte's regular-season opener is still to come.
Q: Why is this a "new-look" Hornets team? A: Charlotte traded LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges in the offseason and added Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and two first-round rookies around Brandon Miller.
Q: Who won the season series last year? A: Boston took it 2-1, though Charlotte won the March 4 meeting 118-89.
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