The Boston Celtics (33 - 41) defeated the Charlotte Hornets (31 - 42) 116 - 104 on Monday. Rookie point guard Marcus Smart bounced back after going scoreless against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. He put in 14 points to go along with six boards, four assists three steals and one black. His backcourt mate Avery Bradley led the Celtics with 30 points and eight rebounds in 39 minutes of action. Boston got loads of backcourt production, as Isaiah Thomas came off the bench and had 10 points and seven assists. Thomas has been great since putting up a dud in his first game back from injury four games ago. Over his last three games Thomas is averaging 16 points and 7 assists in less than 25 minutes a game. Their three - headed backcourt has put them in the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with the Brooklyn Nets hot on their heels. Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 28 points and 12 assists in 39 minutes. Charlotte's other star Al Jefferson was able to play despite needing to have his knee drained of fluid two times over the past week. He finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes. Cody Zeller was unable to play again on Monday with a shoulder injury, he's missed nine of the last ten games, including five straight. The Hornets are 3 - 7 in his absence. Charlotte will welcome the Detroit Pistons to town, as Boston will host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
["PlayerStat(G,'Avery Bradley') has 39 Assists ,has 30 Blocks ,has 8 Defensive rebounds ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Marcus Smart') has 4 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 1 Defensive rebounds ,has 14 3-pointers made ,has 6 Field goals attempted ,has 3 Field goals made ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Isaiah Thomas') has 7 Assists ,has 3 Blocks ,has 4 Defensive rebounds ,has 10 3-pointers made ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Al Jefferson') has 4 Assists ,has 10 Blocks ,has 25 Defensive rebounds ,has 12 3-pointers made ,has 5 Field goals attempted ,has 2 Field goals made ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Kemba Walker') has 12 Assists ,has 2 Blocks ,has 2 Defensive rebounds ,has 9 3-pointers made ,has 9 Field goals attempted ,has 28 Field goals made ,has 2 Free throws attempted ."]