The defending Summer League champion Charlotte Hornets just ate a 95-91 loss against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, and now they are rolling straight into a back-to-back game against the Boston Celtics this Sunday. Talk about a tough turnaround. The Hornets are sitting at 1-1 after that Pelicans game, putting them in a wild spot for their second Summer League matchup. Remember how they started? They straight up beat the Orlando Magic 86-74 in their first game, a sweet bit of revenge after the Magic eliminated them in a Play In game earlier this season. But now? They are facing a rested Boston squad.
The Champs Are On The Ropes (Kind Of)
It is wild to see the defending Summer League champs already feeling the pressure. They have got a mix of guys, including five players with one year of experience, plus Tidjane Salaun with two years, and Terrell Brown, Jr. holding it down with four years in the G-League. And yeah, they have eight rookies listed too. Their head coach, Blaine Mueller, has a solid resume from the G League with the Maine Celtics, and he was an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks for five seasons before joining the Hornets in 2024. But even with all that experience, facing the Celtics on zero rest is a huge ask. It feels like this team is trying to find its footing after that Pelicans loss.Celtics Are Fresh and Dangerous
Now, let us talk about the Celtics. They are coming into this game with a 1-0 record and a day of rest, which is massive when you are playing these Summer League schedules. Even though their #4 draft pick from last season, Kon Knueppel, is not suiting up, this team has some serious talent and momentum. We saw it when Chris Cenac Jr. dropped that game-tying three point basket against the Toronto Raptors on July 10. That kind of clutch play shows this squad has got grit. They have 13 rookies listed, but also some guys with NBA experience like Alondes Williams, who has three years under his belt with Brooklyn, Miami, Detroit, and Washington, and two other players with one year of NBA experience. Amile Jefferson, their coach, knows his stuff too. He played alongside Jayson Tatum at Duke and even had an Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics himself before joining the coaching staff. He was an assistant coach at Duke and then moved to the Celtics in 2023. This is a team built to make some noise. So, get ready for July 12, 5:00 PM ET, on NBCSB or ESPN2, because this Celtics vs. Hornets game is going to be straight fire from Cox Pavilion. Can the defending champs bounce back on a back-to-back, or will Amile Jefferson's fresh Celtics team, fueled by clutch shots from guys like Chris Cenac Jr., put the pressure on? This is more than just another Summer League game, it is a statement opportunity for both squads.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.