Celtics try to get back in win column vs. Charlotte

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Boston Celtics aim to get back in the win column when they visit the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday at Time Warner Cable Arena.

The Celtics won all three games on a recent homestand and the streak came to an end with Monday's 133-132 double-overtime road setback to the Washington Wizards. Boston rallied from a 23-point deficit in the third quarter and outscored the Wizards, 34-18, in the final stanza to force overtime.

Wizards guard John Wall scored the last 10 points for Washington in the second OT and handed out a career-high 17 assists to go with 26 points. Former Celtics star Paul Pierce scored 28 points.

"Those transition baskets killed us, both overtimes," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "John Wall killed us in transition."

Jeff Green led Boston with 28 points, rookie Marcus Smart added a career-high 23 and Kelly Olynyk finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Brandon Bass and Evan Turner scored 19 and 18 points, respectively, for the Celtics, who shot 46.1 percent and posted 32 points on 23 Washington turnovers.

Rajon Rondo had no points and four assists in 20 minutes of action. Rondo was more of a spectator for how well Boston's reserves were playing.

"Those guys deserved to play at the end because they got us right back in it," Stevens said of the bench.

After visiting the Hornets, the Celtics will return home to host rival New York Friday night at TD Garden. Boston is 2-5 on the road.

Charlotte ended a 10-game losing streak with a 103-102 triumph over the Knicks on Friday and will close out a three-game homestand. Kemba Walker's layup with 0.3 seconds to play lifted the Hornets to their first victory since Nov. 14 at Phoenix.

Knicks star Carmelo Anthony gave his team a 102-101 lead off an open 3-pointer with 40.7 seconds to play. Each team missed a jump shot and the Hornets took a timeout with four seconds to play after Marvin Williams rebounded Anthony's miss. Walker then took the inbounds pass and scurried through the lane.

"I just saw an open lane ... I knew I had to get to the basket in a hurry and I was able to get a shot up," Walker said.

Gerald Henderson finished with a season-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, Al Jefferson had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Lance Stephenson also scored 16 points for Charlotte.

The Hornets are 4-7 at The Hive and will visit the Memphis Grizzlies Friday.

Charlotte and Boston will play the first of four meetings this season. The Celtics took two of three matchups with Charlotte last season.