Celtics Cruise Past Shorthanded Hornets as Under Cashes Comfortably

The Celtics handled their preseason business at home, rolling past Charlotte 114-93 in a game that never threatened the total. Boston's starters set the tone early before yielding to the deep bench rotation, while the Hornets' depleted roster—still without multiple rotation pieces—struggled to generate any offensive rhythm against even Boston's third-stringers.

DarkHorse's under 225.5 hit with room to spare, finishing 18 points clear at 207 combined. The handicap was textbook: preseason exhibitions don't produce regular-season scoring efficiency, and Charlotte's injury situation only amplified the offensive dysfunction. When you're missing key rotation players and running camp bodies through extended minutes, the math gets ugly fast. Boston didn't need to push tempo or lean on their stars—this was pure evaluation mode, exactly the script that kills totals.

The 21-point margin flatters the Celtics more than it should. This wasn't a statement win; it was a controlled scrimmage where Boston's superior depth overwhelmed a Hornets squad still figuring out who makes the final roster. Charlotte's offensive execution looked exactly as disjointed as projected, and the slower pace kept possessions manageable throughout.

Clean winner for The Stable. Preseason totals remain exploitable when you account for rotation management and roster limitations. Cash it and move on.