The NBA Cup group stage continues, as the Boston Celtics will face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night as part of East Group C action. Boston is 1-0 in group play and fresh off a Wednesday evening win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Conversely, the Hornets are 0-1 in East Group C and in the midst of a five-game losing streak.

The Hornets' biggest advantage for Friday is probably the fact that they'll be home at the Spectrum Center. Injury luck isn't on their side, though. Hornets guard Kon Knueppel made his season debut during a 114-104 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, yet he was forced to leave the game in the first half after appearing to re-aggravate his left hamstring. He's already listed as out versus the Celtics, but the Green Team might not be at full strength, either. Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard headed to the locker room in the third quarter of Boston's aforementioned win against Milwaukee. The 2025 Sixth Man of the Year suffered a right eye abrasion and is currently questionable. Injuries aside, the Celtics will try to harness the star power of Jayson Tatum and Paul George in order to defeat a struggling Hornets squad that's desperate for a win.

Records, standing, and streaks

The Celtics are 6-2 overall, 1-0 in NBA Cup action, and in third place in the Eastern Conference at the moment. They've prevailed in six of their last seven games.

Meanwhile, the Hornets are 3-6, near the bottom of the East, and in the middle of a five-game losing streak. This dismal stretch included a 95-79 loss to the Washington Wizards in NBA Cup group play last Friday.

Player injuries

The Celtics have just one injury to report ahead of Friday night. Point guard Payton Pritchard is questionable with the same right eye abrasion that sent him to the locker room in the second half of the Celtics' win over the Bucks.

As for the Hornets, guard Kon Knueppel (left hamstring strain) is out again while big man Moussa Diabaté (right quadriceps tendinopathy) and Dennis Schröder (left thigh soreness) are questionable. Hornets forward (and former Celtic) Grant Williams is still out with a right hamstring strain.

Probable starting lineups

Boston

• Derrick White

• Jayson Tatum

• Paul George

• Jordan Walsh

• Neemias Queta

Charlotte

• Coby White

• Brandon Miller

• Naz Reid

• Sion James

• Moussa Diabaté

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