Neemias Queta shines with 17 points in the Celtics’ victory.

In an impressive display, Neemias Queta continues to shine in the NBA, solidifying his position as one of the league’s most promising players. Last Sunday, the Portuguese center scored 17 points in the Boston Celtics’ convincing 114-99 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. This win, marking their 50th of the season, further cements Boston’s standing in the competitive landscape of the Eastern Conference.

Neemias, who started for the 69th time in 70 games this season, demonstrated remarkable efficiency by converting 8 of 13 field goal attempts. Although he missed his only three-point attempt, he performed solidly at the free-throw line, hitting 1 of 2. In 28 minutes and 45 seconds on the court, he also contributed with eight rebounds, three of them offensive, one assist, one block, and one steal, while committing no turnovers, showcasing his efficiency and control during the game. Queta also accumulated four fouls, but this did not hinder his significant contribution to the team’s victory.

In the context of the game, only two Celtics players outscored Neemias: Jayson Tatum, who shone with 32 points, and Payton Pritchard, who added 28. The absence of Jaylen Brown was felt, but the Celtics managed to maintain control of the match. For the Hornets, the standout was LaMelo Ball, who scored 19 points, but it was not enough to prevent defeat against a determined Boston team.

With this result, the Celtics remain firmly in the fight for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, holding second place with 50 wins and 24 losses, while the Hornets sit in tenth place with 39 wins and 36 losses. The Boston team is already preparing for their next challenge, which will be against the Atlanta Hawks in a game that promises to be equally thrilling.

Neemias Queta, a name that is increasingly resonating in basketball, is in his fifth season in the NBA, totaling an impressive 180 games in the league. Of these, 160 were with the Celtics, where he made history by winning a championship in his debut season. Prior to that, he had a brief stint with the Sacramento Kings, where the dream of playing in the NBA began. Selected 39th overall in the 2021 draft, Neemias became the first Portuguese player to step onto the NBA courts and remains the only representative from Portugal in the league to this day.

Queta’s journey is a testament to his talent and perseverance, and basketball fans around the world are eager to see how far he can go. With performances like yesterday’s, he not only solidifies his place on the team but also inspires a new generation of Portuguese players to dream big.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.