(SportsNetwork.com) - The Charlotte Hornets stopped a long losing streak last time out and will try to build some momentum Monday night when they head to TD Garden to meet the Boston Celtics.
On Saturday, the Hornets ended a five-game rut with a 98-90 road victory over the Orlando Magic. That win also put the brakes on a two-game road slide.
Kemba Walker had 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists to lead Charlotte. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist posted 17 points and 12 rebounds, Gary Neal netted 16 points off the bench and Cody Zeller added 12 points and seven boards for the Hornets.
"In the stretch where we played well, we got a lot of effort points," said Hornets coach Steve Clifford.
Orlando trailed 22-20 following a quarter of play, but it failed to register a field goal in the final 7:28 of the second and went the last 6:59 of the opening half without a point.
Charlotte, meanwhile, ripped off the final 22 points of the second.
The Celtics have dropped two straight. First, the C's fell at home in an emotional 119-101 loss to the Dallas Mavericks Friday when Rajon Rondo made his return to Boston after being traded three weeks ago.
One night later, the Celtics were game, but came up a little short in a 109-104 overtime loss at the United Center to the Chicago Bulls.
Evan Turner scored 29 for Boston, which lost for the sixth time in seven games. Avery Bradley chipped in 17 points and Jared Sullinger scored 16 and had 16 rebounds in defeat.
"They gave themselves great opportunities by hitting the offensive boards," Turner said of the Bulls.
Chicago grabbed 24 offensive rebounds and slaughtered Boston on the glass to the tune of 59-45.
After Sullinger put the game in overtime thanks to a layup with a 2.6 seconds left, the Bulls never trailed in the extra period. Bradley's layup had the visitors within two with 41.7 seconds left. Derrick Rose then countered with a layup on the ensuing possession.
Turner and Rose traded free throws to keep it a four-point contest with eight seconds to go. Turner then threw a cross-court inbounds pass that was too high for Jeff Green, who stepped out of bounds to seal the outcome.
Monday's contest will be a battle of the Zeller brothers as big brother Tyler starts at center for the Celtics and baby brother Cody is the starting power forward for Charlotte.
The Hornets defeated the Celtics by nine in Charlotte on Dec. 10 to stop a two-game series winning streak for the C's. Boston is 9-2 in its last 11 as the host versus the Hornets.
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