BOSTON — Kemba Walker didn’t have the answer.
“I think it’s just the flow, just the pace and I’m just making shots,” the guard said on Monday night, after his second straight 30-point effort led his Charlotte Hornets to their second straight win, a 104-95 victory over the Boston Celtics.
“I’m getting to the free-throw line and my teammates are doing a great job of setting me up.”
Shouldering more of the offensive load with center Al Jefferson and forward Lance Stephenson hurt, Walker, who had scored just 22 points in the two previous games, scored 30 in the Hornets’ win at Orlando on Saturday night. He then delivered 33 on Monday as Charlotte (11-24) trailed only 2-0.
“Sure, there’s a lot more responsibility, but I’m just having fun,” Walker said.
The Hornets, leading by 22 in the final minute of the third quarter, survived a Boston charge.
Walker, 22 of 47 from the floor and 6-for-15 from 3-point range the past two games, has also had 12 rebounds and 11 assists in those two games.
Second-year big man Cody Zeller went 8-for-8 from the floor in scoring a career-high 20 points and improving to 6-0 in head-to-head games against his brother, Celtics center Tyler Zeller (two points). Cody Zeller also outrebounded Tyler Zeller 7-2. They did not guard each other very often in the game.
“It’s always fun,” Cody Zeller said. “We play against each other a lot and with each other some. It’s always a little weird because I want the best for him and a lot of success. There are few times each year we have to go against each other and both of us can’t win.”
Asked about his perfect shooting, Cody Zeller, who was also 4-for-4 from the line, said, “I didn’t even know that until they told me. They were kidding me saying I should have shot more because I didn’t miss at all.”
The Celtics (11-21) lost for the eighth time in nine games.
“I’ve got to figure out how to coach this team better,” said coach Brad Stevens. “I’m not doing a very good job. We’re not playing well and we’re playing almost … it’s not good basketball.
“We’ve got to do a better job of playing good basketball and figure out the rotations maybe when we start playing good basketball … it’s on me. I’ve got to do a better job.”
Talking about this game, Stevens said, “I was throwing darts” using all 13 players by the third quarter.
Four of his five starters had seven points or less.
“I’ve got to figure out a way to get those guys to play. It’s on me,” Stevens said. “We weren’t very organized offensively, we weren’t very good defensively. We got torched by one guy. That’s bad coaching.”
Forward Jared Sullinger, who led Boston with 22 points and eight rebounds, said, “That’s who (Stevens) is, but as a team we just have to do better.”
The Celtics cut the deficit to six points with 5:28 left, but a couple of key offensive rebounds by Charlotte led to baskets that kept the Celtics at bay. The lead grew back to 15 before another Celtics charge got it down to seven with 37.6 seconds left.
Charlotte forward Marvin Williams came off the bench to contribute 10 points and eight rebounds. Center Bismack Biyombo grabbed 10 boards, and guard Gerald Henderson had 13 points and eight assists.
Reserve forward Jae Crowder had 13 points and five boards for the Celtics, while rookie swingman James Young, who has played sparingly and spent time in the NBA Development League, scored 13 points, all in the second half. That was two points more than he had scored all season.
Boston forward Jeff Green, the subject of trade rumors, followed a 4-of-18 shooting game at Chicago by going 3-for-13. He scored his team’s first six points and seven of the first 12 and didn’t score again.
NOTES: Charlotte coach Steve Clifford, talking pregame about what it means to be without C Al Jefferson (groin strain) and F Lance Stephenson (pelvic strain), said, “The biggest thing is the post-up game. We were so reliant, probably more than any other team, on how we posted the ball with Al. Now we’re more of a dribble handoff, pick-and-roll team.” The Hornets were also missing G Jannero Pargo (back). … Celtics G Jameer Nelson (ankle) and G Marcus Thornton (calf) were out, though Thornton might return to play Wednesday at Brooklyn. … The Celtics observed a moment of silence for ESPN commentator Stuart Scott, who died Sunday. … Monday night was Seats for Soldiers Night at TD Garden, with season ticket holders donating tickets. … The Hornets go home to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. … Charlotte rookie F Noah Vonleh, who didn’t play, is from nearby Haverhill, Mass.