TAKING STING OUT OF HORNETS

Tatum responds to Williams' hard foul by leading the Celtics to 124-109 victory

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CHARLOTTE - Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla loves a physical game or two, and he got his wish on Nov 1.

His National Basketball Association (NBA) champions, fueled by 32 points from Jayson Tatum, bounced back from an overtime defeat with a gritty 124-109 victory over the Hornets in Charlotte.

Tatum added 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and Jaylen Brown scored 25 points with six rebounds and five assists.

It was a physical game that saw tensions erupt in the fourth quarter when former Celtic Grant Williams sent Tatum sprawling with a shoulder-to-shoulder check.

Williams was ejected, but Brown and others were clearly angered.

Less than a minute later, Hornets guard LaMelo Ball was assessed a flagrant foul for crowding in under Tatum as the Celtics star attempted a three-pointer, and Charlotte's Miles Bridges was ejected in the final minutes for punching the ball.

It all could make for fireworks when the teams face off again on Nov 2 (Nov 3, Singapore time), but Mazzulla was not fazed.