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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Avery Bradley said his goal coming into the season was to expand his game.So far, so good.Bradley had 31 points on a career-high eight 3-pointers and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 104-98 Saturday night.Bradley was 8 of 11 from beyond the arc as the Celtics shot 75 percent from the field in the fourth quarter to pull away.Bradley is averaging 21.3 points and nearly nine rebounds through three games this season.Thats my mindset this year -- Im trying to rebound, pass the ball and make plays for others, Bradley said. I work on my game every single summer and know Im trying to put it in the game.Isaiah Thomas had 24 points and seven assists and Al Horford added 14 points for the Celtics, who trailed by one entering the fourth quarter.Boston finished 15 of 31 from 3-point range, while the Hornets were just 9 of 32.Coach Brad Stevens left Bradley in the game with the second team to start the fourth quarter and the strategy paid off. Bradley was 5 of 7 from the field in the final 12 minutes and made all three 3-point attempts.Weve been starting or playing early in those quarters -- the second or fourth -- either Isaiah or Avery to try to keep one of our guards in with the second unit, Stevens said. I did think he was gassed at about the seven-minute mark. Thats why we took him back out for a couple of minutes.Hornets coach Steve Cliffford said Bradley was terrific.Especially in the stretch where they got a little bit of cushion (in the fourth quarter) which ended up being the difference in the game, Clifford said. Theyre a good team and they played well. You can see why people are saying theyll be top two or three in the East.Walker led the Hornets in their home opener with 29 points, while Frank Kaminsky had 11 points and four rebounds in his first regular season action.The Hornets spent most of the game trying to claw even with the Celtics after falling behind early. They finally took the lead on a 7-foot jumper by Nicolas Batum on the final possession of the third quarter. But the lead was short-lived as Bradley started to heat up in the fourth quarter and the Celtics built a 93-79 lead.TIP-INS:Celtics: G Marcus Smart is making progress from his left ankle sprain, but Stevens said hes not sure if Smart will play Wednesday vs. Chicago. I anticipate that hell at least go through some of Mondays practice, but I dont know if hell be live, Stevens said. ... Amir Johnson received a flagrant 1 foul when he elbowed Cody Zeller in the head on a post-up move.Hornets: Owner Michael Jordan took in the teams home opener from the end of the bench. ... C Roy Hibbert, who has had a strong start to the season, missed the game with soreness in his right knee. ... G Jeremy Lamb left the game in the second quarter with a strained left hamstring and did not return. ... The Hornets took 22 free throws in the first half; Boston just two.TOO MANY TURNOVERS:Stevens wasnt real happy with his teams 13 turnovers that led to 13 points for the Hornets.Theyre one of the best teams in the NBA at packing the paint, Stevens said. We tried to thread the needle a little bit too much.POOR DEFENSE:Clifford didnt like his teams effort on defense, particularly in the second half where they allowed 60 points.When you play defense, theres a way you do it. You have the right stance, you have the right talk, you have the right organization, Clifford said. That gives you a chance. When guys start making their own stuff up, youve got no shot against a good team. And thats what happened tonight.UP NEXT:Celtics: Host Chicago on Wednesday before heading on the road to face LeBron James and Cavaliers on Thursday.Hornets: Host Philadelphia on Wednesday, part of five home games during a six-game stretch. Warren Sapp Jersey . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. John Lynch Buccaneers Jersey . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. http://www.authenticbuccaneerspro.com/John-lynch-buccaneers-jersey/ . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Mike Edwards Buccaneers Jersey .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. John Lynch Youth Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Rams rookie linebacker Josh Forrest will miss four to six weeks after suffering a knee injury during Sundays 14-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins, according to Los Angeles coach Jeff Fisher.Fisher said Monday the Rams most likely will place Forrest on the injured reserve list and promote linebacker Nic Grigsby from the practice squad to help on special teams. The coach did not specify the nature of Forrests injury.Forrest, 24, injured the knee on a second-quarter collision with teammate E.J. Gaines. Forrest was chasing Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill near the sideline when he tripped over Gaines as Gaines was pushed down.A sixxth-round draft pick out of Kentucky, Forrest has recorded three solo tackles, a pass deflection and a fumble recovery while serving as the Rams third linebacker, after Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron.dddddddddddd His playing time has been inconsistent this season, because the Rams primarily use a nickel set that requires only two linebackers.From the Rams fifth to ninth games this season, Forrest played 44 percent, 26 percent, 2 percent, 19 percent and 7 percent of the defensive snaps, respectively. ' ' '