Brown scores 35 points as the Celtics beat the Hornets 113-102 to claim the season series

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 35 points and nine rebounds, and the Boston Celtics outlasted the Charlotte Hornets 113-102 on Tuesday night.

Brown has scored 26 or more points in his last 10 games. Jayson Tatum added 23 points and has had at least 20 in each of his last six games. Both played the entire fourth quarter.

With the win, the Celtics inched closer to locking up the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. It also gave Boston a 2-1 win in the season series with the Hornets, who could potentially be its first-round opponent.

The Hornets led by 11 in the first half but were outscored 35-26 in the third quarter as Boston took a 90-87 edge into the final period. The Celtics limited the Hornets to 15 points in the fourth, when they built a 13-point lead.

LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 36 points, his second straight 30-point game.

Brandon Miller had 20 points. Miles Bridges added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel struggled, shooting just 5 of 16 from the field and finishing with 13 points.

The Hornets have two games remaining as they try to avoid appearing in the play-in tournament.

Hornets: Host the Pistons on Friday.

Celtics: Visit the Knicks on Thursday.

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

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) prepares to drive on Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) during the first half of a NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) grabs a loose ball against Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) during the first half of a NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, left, grabs a rebound against Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabate (14) during the first half of a NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) takes a 3-point shot against Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) during the first half of a NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) grabs a rebound against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the first half of a NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kyle Higashioka gave Texas the lead with a two-run homer, Nathan Eovaldi recorded his 1,500th career strikeout during six solid innings and the Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Higashioka's liner just over the wall in left field in the fifth put the Rangers in front 3-2 against George Kirby, who lost to Texas for the first time in 11 career starts. The right-hander won eight of those first 10.

Brendan Donovan homered to right on the first pitch of the game in Eovaldi's 300th career start, but the 36-year-old right-hander settled in and struck out seven, including Josh Naylor for his 1,500th to end the first inning. Eovaldi (1-2) allowed six hits and two runs.

Jacob Latz finished two perfect innings with strikeouts of Naylor and Randy Arozarena, who combined to go 0 for 8 with seven strikeouts from the 4-5 spots in the Seattle order. The left-hander set a franchise record by holding opponents hitless in 28 at-bats to start the season.

Jakob Junis pitched around consecutive singles to start the ninth for his second save in two games, matching his career total from 253 career appearances over nine seasons.

Cal Raleigh gave Seattle a 2-0 lead in the fifth with an RBI single, one night after the catcher who led the majors with 60 homers in 2025 went deep for the first time this season.

Kirby (1-2) had a career ERA of 0.97 against Texas when Joc Pederson and Evan Carter opened the fifth with consecutive singles. Pederson advanced to second on Donovan's throwing error at third base, then scored on Carter's base hit before Higashioka drilled an 0-1 pitch to left.

Kirby gave up six hits over eight innings in his second career complete game — both losses in eight-inning outings — as Mariners lost a series for the first time in 10 meetings with the Rangers going back to September 2023.

Mariners RHP Bryan Woo (0-0, 1.38 ERA) faces Texas lefty MacKenzie Gore (1-0, 3.97) in the series finale Wednesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Texas Rangers' Joc Pederson (3) reaches on a single as Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12) dives for an errant throw to the bag in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh (29) celebrates hitting a run-scoring single as first base coach Eric Young Jr., right, and umpire Brock Ballou, left, look on in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi throws to the Seattle Mariners in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers' Kyle Higashioka (11) celebrates with Josh Smith, right, and Evan Carter, rear, after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)