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)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Coco Gauff had a little difficulty adjusting to the sun at one end of Rod Laver Arena and dropped an early service game but quickly settled into a rhythm to start her Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-3 win Monday over 2020 champion Sofia Kenin.

Third-seeded Gauff won the title at the WTA Finals last November and started this season by helping the U.S. to victory at the United Cup last week, a run that gives her a chance to move atop the rankings.

The 2023 U.S. Open champion is wearing a Marvel-inspired bodysuit and skirt at Melbourne Park and she's radiating confidence and calm.

“I knew going in it was going to be difficult, but you know I’m happy with how I played,” she said of the 1-hour, 20-minute win over Kenin, who at No. 81 is a much tougher opponent than her ranking suggests.

“I mean (I) could serve better, but like on that side I was struggling to see the ball,” Guaff said, pointing to one baseline on the main show court that was bathed in sun. “So I’m just happy that I was able to manage through that.”

Another 20-year-old American, Alex Michelsen, produced the biggest win of his young career with a 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 first-round upset of 2023 Australian runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Michelsen's three booming service returns in the ninth game of the fourth set helped him earn a vital break against the 11th-seeded Tsitsipas and, after shaking off jitters on his own serve, he closed out for his first ever victory over a player ranked in the top 20.

Gauff went into her opening round on a streak of winning 33 matches against players ranked outside the Top 50, dating to a loss to Kenin at Wimbledon 2023.

It was tough going early, with Gauff converting an early break before Kenin got back on serve at 2-2, hitting deep ground strokes and getting good bounce off the hard court.

But Gauff, who had five aces and four double-faults in her first two service games, lifted her tempo, started taking the ball earlier and won four of the next five games. She finished the match with 12 aces and nine double-faults, and saved seven of the eight breakpoints she faced. She also had 28 winners, including two rifling backhands on key points in the second set, and 13 unforced errors.

The draw presented another tough trip to Australia for Kenin. It was the third straight year Kenin faced a Grand Slam champion in the first round in Australia, and her fourth consecutive first-round exit here.

Guaff will next play Jodie Burrage of Britain. Also advancing from early matches were No. 12 Diana Shnaider, No. 23 Magdalena Frech and No. 25 Liudmila Samsonova.

After a stop-start Day 1 on Sunday, including more than six hours of rain, Monday’s packed program also includes matches for 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, defending champion Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and women's No. 2 Iga Swiatek.

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

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece reacts during a break in his first round match against Alex Michelsen of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece reacts after winning a point against Alex Michelsen of the U.S. during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Alex Michelsen of the U.S. reacts after winning a point against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Alex Michelsen of the U.S. plays a forehand return to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Coco Gauff, left, of the U.S. is congratulated by compatriot Sofia Kenin following their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Sofia Kenin of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Coco Gauff of the U.S. during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. serves to Sofia Kenin of the U.S.during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Coco Gauff of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Sofia Kenin of the U.S. during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)