Portuguese center Neemias Queta scored 17 points as the Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 114-99 on Sunday in the NBA regular season.
The international player, starting for the 69th time in 70 games in the 2025/26 season, made eight of 13 field goal attempts — missing his only three-pointer — and one of two free throws.
In 28 minutes and 45 seconds on the court, Queta also recorded eight rebounds (three offensive), one assist, one block, one steal, committed no turnovers, and four fouls.
For the Celtics, only two players scored more points than Queta: forward Jayson Tatum with 32 and guard Payton Pritchard with 28, while Jaylon Brown was absent. For the Hornets, point guard LaMelo Ball led with 19 points.
Read more: NBA: Neemias Queta scores 13 in Celtics’ win over OKC (with video)
The Celtics secured their 50th win in 74 games, holding second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Detroit Pistons (54 wins, 20 losses), while Charlotte sits 10th with 39 wins and 36 losses. Boston will face the Atlanta Hawks next.
In his fifth NBA season, Neemias Queta has played 180 regular-season games — 160 with the Celtics (28 in 2023/24, 62 in 2024/25, and 70 in 2025/26) and 20 with the Sacramento Kings (15 in 2021/22 and 5 in 2022/23). He won a championship in his rookie season with Boston.
The 26-year-old Portuguese center was selected 39th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2021 NBA Draft, becoming the first and only Portuguese player in NBA history.
