Charlotte Hornets vs Boston Celtics Final Score & Over/Under Result — Mar 4, 2026

Charlotte's offensive efficiency over its last ten games—117.3 points per night—suggested the Hornets would impose their will on a Boston defense allowing 98.5 per game. Instead, this matchup unfolded as a methodical grind, one that punished scoring ambitions from the opening tip.

The first quarter exploded for 58 combined points, the game's highest-scoring frame, as Charlotte jumped to 35 while Boston managed 23. But that burst proved unsustainable. The second half told a different story: Boston tightened its rotations, Charlotte's pace flattened, and the two teams combined for just 100 points across the final sixteen minutes. The combined total landed at 207, well short of the 214.5 market line, with the second half—a meager 100 combined points—functioning as the deciding factor.

Derrick White led Boston's defensive effort with 29 points and steady playmaking, while Jaylen Brown added 20 points and 11 rebounds to steady the Celtics down the stretch. For Charlotte, Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball each scored 18 points, and Brandon Miller chipped in 18 more, yet their collective offensive load never matched the early-quarter urgency. DAGGER leaned under, and it cashed decisively, as Boston's tighter second-half defense and Charlotte's inability to sustain rhythm held the final combined score 7.5 points beneath the pregame projection.