BOSTON -- Despite 30 points each from Alonza Mourning and Kendall Gill the Charlotte Hornets debut in the NBA playoffs was spoiled Thursday night when Xavier McDaniel came off the bench to score 21 points and lead the Boston Celtics to a 112-101 win.
The Hornets starting five outscored the Celtics starters 87-59 but Boston used their playoff experience in the second half, outscoring Charlotte 59-48.
'We did a lot of things well in the second half. Is that experience? I don't know,' Celtics Coach Chris Ford said.
Reggie Lewis scored 10 points in the first three minutes of the first quarter but with the Celtics setting up their offense he crumpled and fell to the floor with 6:26 left. At first the Celtics said Lewis had suffered a mild concussion, but team doctor Arnold Scheller later said that Lewis was suffering from glucose problems and would undergo a complete medical examination on Friday. Lewis did return in the second half and scored 7 points.
With the Celtics captain and leading scorer out, Charlotte outscored Boston 18-13 to take a 34-29 lead at end of the first quarter.
'I think our guys played aggressive and really learned a lot from this game,' Charlotte Coach Alan Bristow said.
Boston opened the second quarter with a 10-2 run and took a 39-36 lead with 7:48 left in the half when McDaniel hit a 11-footjump shot from the baseline.
'We controlled the boards when we had to,' said Sherman Douglas, who scored 13 points, handed out 11 assists and grabbed nine rebounds. 'X was the man tonight. He brings fire and brimstone to this series.'
Boston built the lead to 49-44 when Dee Brown nailed a jump shot from the top of the key with 3:58 left in the second quarter.
'Everybody has to step up in the playoffs. We have to keep up tonight's intensity for Game Two, which will be more physical,' said Brown, who scored 16 points and contributed seven assists.
The Hornets weren't through and went on a 8-2 run of their own to take a 52-51 lead with 1:37 left in the first half when Kendall Gill converted a driving layup.
'I wish tonight's game wasn't over. I can't wait until Saturday. We just don't want to go home two games down,' Gill said.
With the score tied at 53-53 entering the second half, Boston took control in the third quarter. Not only did the Celtics go on a 17-6 run during the first six minutes of the quarter.
'It's about time we came out in the third quarter and played well,' said Alaa Abdelnaby.
The Celtics held a 83-71 lead going into the fourth quarter and put the game away with a 17-9 run over the first six minutes of the quarter. McDaniel was the Boston catalyst in the fourth, scoring 13 points. It was his 3-point play on a 10-foot jump shot and a free throw after being fouled by Johnson that gave Boston its biggest lead, 100-80 with 6:32 left.
'They didn't do anything special that we didn't expect. They just put the ball in the hoop,' Charlotte point guard Mugsy Bogues said.
Boston made 48 of 88 shots from the field and 16 of 19 free throws. Charlotte was 40 of 93 from the field and 21 of 28 from the line.
'I thought Boston played great basketball. The difference was that they hit a lot of tough shots,' Bristow said.
