With the Boston Celtics up by nine points against the Charlotte Hornets entering the fourth quarter, Kyrie Irving thought they had the game in the bag. However, as the All-Star point guard phrased it, they took their “foot off the gas pedal.”
The Celtics eventually lost to the Hornets 124-117 at Spectrum Center on Saturday. That result by itself isn't especially noteworthy. Not only were Boston playing without Al Horford and Gordon Hayward, but Charlotte need every win they can get down the stretch as they fight to get back into playoff position. Kemba Walker played like it, too, scoring 36 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing nine assists.
All that considered, Boston's loss isn't just understandable, but also defensible. Nonetheless, Kyrie still thinks they should have won and that the game shouldn't have been close at all.
“The game was over in the beginning of the fourth quarter. We took our foot off the gas pedal; it got to a five-point game, momentum shifted from there.” – #Celtics Kyrie Irving.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) March 24, 2019
Boston's season hasn't exactly gone as planned. Despite Kyrie Irving putting together perhaps the best finest individual campaign of his career and Al Horford finally rounding into form, the Celtics can't seem to shake the lack of chemistry and cohesion that's plagued them since the 2018-19 season tipped off in the fall.
Saturday's loss certainly won't make doing so any easier. Irving was brilliant offensively, almost matching Walker shot for shot en route to 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists on 12-of-23 shooting. Jaylen Brown was fantastic off the bench, continuing his strong recent play with 29 points on 13 shots.
Still, it wasn't enough for the Celtics — beset by the absence of two key contributors, Jayson Tatum's ongoing struggles, and a culture they're still waiting to develop.
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