Tatum scores 29 points, Celtics beat Hornets 113-103 to sweep back-to-back in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, Payton Pritchard had 22 points on six 3-pointers and the Boston Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets 113-103 for the second straight night at the Spectrum Center on Saturday.

Derrick White added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics, who beat the Hornets 124-109 on Friday night. Boston improved to 6-1.

Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball eclipsed the 30-point barrier for the fourth time this season, finishing with 36 points on 15-of-26 shooting before fouling out for the second straight game. Brandon Miller had 16 points in his return from a strained glute,

Tatum was just 1 of 9 from beyond the arc, but converted 14 of 17 free throws.

There were no incidents on the court Saturday night after Boston player Grant Williams was assessed a flagrant-two foul and ejected after plowing over Tatum at midcourt.

Celtics: No Jaylen Brown, no problem for the deep Celtics. Brown sat out with a hip flexor strain, but Boston didn't miss a beat, bolting to a 19-point lead in the second quarter. White stepped up his scoring and Jrue Holiday made big play after big play.

Hornets: LaMelo Ball has to find a way to stay out of foul trouble. Ball picked up two quick fouls and had to be replaced and watch as the Celtics built a 21-9 first quarter lead. He's far too valuable to the Hornets to be sitting on the bench.

After the Hornets came out on fire in the third quarter, Jrue Holiday hit a 3 to end the rally and Boston quickly pushed the lead back to double digits.

The Celtics outrebound the Hornets 44-34 with Charlotte playing without its top two centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards.

The Celtics head down Interstate-85 to face Atlanta at Monday night. The Hornets are at Minnesota on Monday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (23) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin (11) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets guard Nick Smith Jr. (8) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics forward Xavier Tillman (26) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) drives past Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) for a layup during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller goes up for a slam dunk over Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller goes up for a slam dunk over Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) looks to pass the ball away from Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

CAIRO (AP) — Palestinian officials say Fatah and Hamas are closing in on an agreement to appoint a committee of politically independent technocrats to administer the Gaza Strip after the war. It would effectively end Hamas' rule and could help advance ceasefire talks with Israel.

The rival factions have made several failed attempts to reconcile since Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007. Israel has meanwhile ruled out any postwar role in Gaza for either Hamas or Fatah, which dominates the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.

A Palestinian Authority official on Tuesday confirmed that an agreement had been reached following weeks of negotiations in Cairo. The official said the committee would have 12-15 members, most of them from Gaza.

It would report to the Palestinian Authority, which is headquartered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and work with local and international parties to facilitate humanitarian assistance and reconstruction.

A Hamas official said that Hamas and Fatah had agreed on the general terms but were still negotiating over some details and the individuals who would serve on the committee. The official said an agreement would be announced after a meeting of all Palestinian factions in Cairo, without providing a timeline.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media on the talks. There was no immediate comment from Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is dismantled and scores of hostages are returned. He says Israel will maintain open-ended security control over Gaza, with civilian affairs administered by local Palestinians unaffiliated with the Palestinian Authority or Hamas.

No Palestinians have publicly volunteered for such a role, and Hamas has threatened anyone who cooperates with the Israeli military.

The United States has called for a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza ahead of eventual statehood. The Israeli government, which is opposed to Palestinian statehood, is reportedly discussing a postwar plan with the United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020 and backs a rival Fatah faction.

The Hamas official said the emerging Palestinian agreement would fulfill one of Israel’s war goals by ending Hamas’ rule in Gaza. It’s unclear if Israeli officials would see it that way.

The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank, recognizes Israel and cooperates with it on security matters, a policy that is deeply unpopular among Palestinians, many of whom view it as a subcontractor of the occupation. Israel says the authority has not done enough to combat militancy or curb incitement.

The committee would assume its responsibilities after a ceasefire agreement with Israel, the Hamas official said. American and Arab mediators have spent nearly a year trying to broker such an agreement, but the negotiations have repeatedly stalled.

Hamas ignited the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Some 100 hostages remain inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 44,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to local health authorities, who do not say how many of the dead were combatants. The offensive has leveled much of the coastal territory and displaced the vast majority of its 2.3 million residents.

Federman reported from Jerusalem.

Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Young Palestinians walk amongst rubble of destroyed buildings at a neighbourhood in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)