Charlotte @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 11, 2017 ) Boston 108, Charlotte 100

Even as the injuries mount for the Boston Celtics, so do the wins, and the hottest team in the NBA seeks an 11th consecutive victory Friday night against the visiting Charlotte Hornets. Playing without center Al Horford (concussion protocol) and losing star rookie Jayson Tatum (ankle) in the second quarter, the Celtics worked their way past the rival Los Angeles Lakers by a 107-96 margin Wednesday.

Their 10-game run, which came on the heels of an 0-2 start that included the loss of prize free-agent signee Gordon Hayward, features four victories at home and nine in which Boston's opponent was held to 96 points or fewer. "We're just trying to do our best to stay healthy, man," guard Kyrie Irving told reporters. "That's it. Hopefully everything's alright with Jayson (Tatum), hope everything is alright with Al." The Hornets are trending in the other direction, dropping three in a row to begin their four-game road trip while giving up an average of 112.7 points. Three players scored 21 points but Charlotte allowed the New York Knicks to shoot 60 percent from the field in a 118-113 loss at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Charlotte), NBCSN Boston

ABOUT THE HORNETS (5-6): Rookie Malik Monk joined veteran stars Dwight Howard and Kemba Walker among the 21-point scorers in Tuesday's loss, and the one-and-done Kentucky product is proving to be a spark plug - albeit an inconsistent one - off the bench. "He's learning the NBA game. It's a big adjustment," Hornets coach Steve Clifford told reporters. "I know his numbers aren't very good, but his progress has been there." Clifford was referring to some of the rocky shooting efforts Monk has had, but the 19-year-old has also hit five 3-pointers twice in the last four games and is averaging 12.6 points in 21.6 minutes in Charlotte's five wins.

ABOUT THE CELTICS (10-2): Horford's absence allowed big man Aron Baynes to score a career high-tying 21 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists. "We have such great creators on this team, I found myself in the right position," Baynes told the media. "I was just trying to make the right play and trying to finish as best I could, so it's a compliment to the other guys on the team getting me the ball in great position." Without Tatum (52.9 percent 3-point shooter) for most of the game and Horford (47.4) for all of it, the Celtics shot a season-worst 24.1 percent from long distance.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Tatum is expected to have tests done on his ankle Thursday.

2. Howard is averaging 17.8 points on 66.7 percent shooting and 10.5 rebounds over a four-game span.

3. The Celtics swept the four-game season series in 2016-17.

PREDICTION: Celtics 105, Hornets 97