>

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets

NBA: Jaylen Brown helps Celtics edge past Hornets despite late rally

Boston holds on for 122-118 victory in Charlotte

Brown scores 30 points, Tatum adds 25 as Celtics improve to 39-28

Jaylen Brown put together another strong performance as the Boston Celtics held off a late rally from the Charlotte Hornets to earn a 122-118 victory on Wednesday night in Charlotte, N.C.

Brown scored 12 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter as the Celtics prevented the Hornets from winning three straight for the first time since December.

Jayson Tatum added 25 points for the Celtics, who have won four of their past five games and improved to 39-28.

Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 29 points, followed by Jalen McDaniels with 23, Gordon Hayward with 19 and LaMelo Ball with 18.

The Hornets trailed 101-84 after three quarters but chipped away at the lead in the fourth. Rozier made a jumper that cut the deficit to 110-104 with 8:16 remaining, and Ball buried a 3-pointer to make it 112-109 less than a minute later.

Brown responded with a jumper, and Tatum's 3-pointer stretched the lead back to 117-109 with 5:51 left.

McDaniels made a layup, Ball hit a jumper and McDaniels cut the lead to 117-115 with a dunk with 3:04 remaining.

Derrick White hit one of two free throws, and McDaniels made another layup to make it 118-117.

Brown made two free throws with 1:25 left, and after Ball missed a 3-pointer, Tatum made one of two from the line to make it 121-117 with 10.8 seconds left.

The Hornets missed their final three shots and the Celtics held on for the win.