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Final Thoughts

The Celtics really let one get away from them here. They were playing a young and inexperienced team that was without its best scorer, yet failed to take advantage.

Rajon Rondo dished out 11 assists, but scored just seven points. Paul Pierce had just 12 and Kevin Garnett led the team with 15. If Boston plans on contending, its going to need more than 34 total points from its three best players.

Most troubling about this loss was the Celtics' display on the boards. New Orleans took three less shots (71) than Boston did (74), and also shot worse (44 percent) than the Celtics (46 percent) did too. And yet, New Orleans still won by 12 courtesy of a 48-33 advantage on the glass.

Boston also sent the Hornets to the line 31 times, which is inexcusable. New Orleans dropped 26 points from the charity stripe alone, compared to the Celtics who attempted just 16 free-throws connecting on a grotesque six of them.

Truth be told, neither team played exceptionally well tonight. It was the Hornets who played smarter, though, clogging the lane and forcing the Celtics into jump shots. They're defensive rotations—especially with Rondo creating—was stellar as well.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Boston. The Celtics defended very poorly and I'm actually shocked that the Hornets didn't crack a 100. Boston wasn't communicating, rotating properly and its lack of size was no excuse for a lack of aggression on the boards.

So yeah, this one was ugly; the Hornets were just a lot less ugly than the Celtics.

Final Score: Hornets 90, Celtics 78

And here's the Hornets' box score:

Box score via NBA.com.

Not all that pretty either, but they got the job done.

Here's the final box score for the Celtics:

Celtics box score via NBA.com.

Yeah, it's not pretty.

And that's all folks. The Celtics fall to a Gordon-less Hornets team at home. Rebounding, offense and defense were all issues. 

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Fun Fact: Hornets are the only team Rondo has never recorded a double-double against. He's going to fall short tonight. Dropped 11 dimes but scored just seven points.

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Currently trying to imagine what Austin Rivers would be like if he could shoot free throws. 

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Leandro Barbosa plays with so much energy. You have to wonder why Rivers doesn't play him more. Especially when their playing a young, spry team like the Hornets.

This one's getting ugly. Celtics are minus-14 on the glass right now and Pierce just fouled with only 12 points. Boston down big. Real big.

Hornets 86, Celtics 71 with 2:15 remaining in the fourth quarter

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Greivis Vasquez has a double-double and Roger Mason has a blocked shot. Seems like Boston has fallen back down earth. Against a team that is without its best player, no less.

This:

Rebounds: Hornets 43 > Celtics 32. C's 10-14 when opponent has more rebounds. (3:37 left in 4Q).

— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoNBA) January 17, 2013

Ten times over.

Sullinger is literally the only one who seems to care on the glass for Boston. At all.

Vasquez hits three clutch free throws to push lead to 11 for Hornets. This one is getting ugly for Boston. Quite frankly, the way the Celtics are defending, they're lucky to only be down 11.

Hornets 82, Celtics 71 with 3:00 remaining in fourth quarter

Someone should alert the Celtics that they're losing.

#LeaguePassAlert @hornets 77, @celtics 71 w/ 5:31 left in BOS.

— NBA (@NBA) January 17, 2013

Maybe they'll play harder.

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Robin Lopez just had to dribble it across for the Hornets. It wasn't pretty but it worked. Proceeded to drill a long two. The way the Celtics are playing, that could prove to be the dagger.

Hornets 79, Celtics 71 with 3:40 remaining in fourth quarter

Aminu still leads all scorers in this game with 16. Just saying.

Rondo having a quiet night. Nine of the quietest assists I've ever seen. More concerned that he has only seven points. Celtics need him to score more. Hell, they need him to shoot more. He's taken just seven shots. 

It's imperative for the Celtics that Rondo become a consistent threat to both distribute and score consistently. It opens things up for this team even more.

Breaking: Sullinger has range. He just drilled an 18-footer. 

Quick observation: Great follow and subsequent rotation on the ball, but he barely lifted his feet. Still, have to be encouraged that he's showing KG-like range.

Hornets 77, Celtics 71 with 5:31 remaining in the fourth quarter

Here's a nice little Rajon Rondo highlight to chew on from earlier:

Robin Lopez very active on the offensive glass tonight. Has four offensive rebounds and has created a plethora of opportunities for the Hornets just by boxing Garnett out effectively.

Hornets 74, Celtics 69 with 6:33 remaining int he fourth quarter

Unlike the Celtics, Hornets defensive rotations have been impeccable.

You know what hasn't been impeccable? 

Ryan Anderson's shooting. He is bricking all of his three-point attempts.

Hornets 72, Celtics 67 with 7:25 remaining in the fourth quarter

Courtney Lee blew two chances to tie the game. Those were wide-open corner threes he caromed off the rim. Instead, Boston finds itself back down by five.

Hornets 70, Celtics 65 with 9:30 remaining in the third quarter

Hornets box score via NBA.com.

Here's a look at the Hornets' box score after three:

They've outscored Boston 38-24 in the paint, so you'd think they'd be up by more.

Celtics box score via NBA.com.

Here's a look at the Celtics' box score after the third quarter:

Boston is going to need either Rondo, Pierce or Garnett to make some noise in the fourth to pull this one out it seems.

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

You have to love Pierce's double-clutch shots. So smooth. He makes them look so easy. That said, Pierce fouled Austin Rivers with 0.4 seconds left on the clock. Bad move. Celtics had made mini run to cut it to four. Instead, Rivers sinks one and Celtics head into fourth down by five.

Hornets 67, Celtics 63 end of third quarter

A. Sherrod Blakely stating the obvious here, but yeah, Jason Terry has caught fire.

#Celticstalk: #Celtics Jason Terry with 12 pts now. His 2nd double-digit game in last 8 for the C's.

— A. Sherrod Blakely (@SherrodbCSN) January 17, 2013

Celtics are going to need him to win this one. Garnett and Pierce struggling from the field.

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Aminu has attempted a career-high 11 free-throws tonight. He's made 10 of those, another career-high. He leads all scorers with 16 points.

Hornets 65, Celtics 59 with 1:35 remaining in third quarter