The Celtics overcame one other robust evening of 3-point taking pictures to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 120-119 at TD Backyard on Sunday evening in a near-disastrous loss at TD Backyard.
CJ McCollum had an opportunity to win within the last seconds of regulation after Boston turned the ball over on a 5-second violation with 6.6 seconds left. Nevertheless, the Pelicans guard missed a floater on the finish of regulation, permitting the hosts to carry on after practically blowing a five-point lead within the last 22 seconds of regulation.
Boston trailed by as many as 11 factors within the first half after a gradual taking pictures begin (1 of 11 from 3-point vary) to associate with disappointing protection towards an 8-31 Pelicans group. Boston fought their means again into the sport within the second quarter and it was an in depth battle the remainder of the way in which as Boston tried to make up for an additional tough taking pictures evening by hitting the offensive glass onerous.
The Celtics and Pelicans have been tied till 2:48 into the fourth quarter, however Boston was in a position to shut the door, utilizing a 6-1 run within the subsequent two minutes to take management earlier than nearly permitting a surprising rally.
Jayson Tatum led the way in which for the Celtics with a game-high 38 factors as 5 totally different Boston gamers scored in double figures. Kristaps Porzingis added a double-double with 19 factors and 11 rebounds. Trey Murphy III scored a game-high 30 factors for the Pelicans as New Orleans fell brief regardless of taking pictures 16 share factors higher than Boston from 3-point vary.
Boston improves to 28-11 on the season with the win and now has two days off earlier than dealing with the Toronto Raptors on the highway Wednesday evening.
Listed below are 4 Celtics takeaways from Sunday’s recreation:
Dejounte Murray goes loopy early however comes again all the way down to earth: The Pelicans’ offseason commerce addition has been disappointing in his new dwelling all yr, however performed a few of his greatest basketball early Sunday evening. The guard scored 17 factors within the first half, together with his first 5 3-point makes an attempt within the body. It was a profession excessive for him in 1 / 4 and a season excessive for 3 factors in a recreation. Contemplating he was taking pictures simply 26 p.c from 3-point vary this yr, the Celtics gambled that he would not be capable to hit these seems to be and that led to a double-digit deficit within the first quarter. Murray missed eight straight photographs after a sizzling begin and completed with 26 factors on 8-of-19 taking pictures.
Joe Mazzulla tinkers with the rotation: The Celtics have been enjoying their ordinary nine-man rotation, nevertheless it seems Mazzulla is performing some experimenting in the midst of Boston’s up-and-down recreation as of late. Mazzulla adjusted Sam Hauser’s enjoying time, accompanying him for simply three minutes initially of the second quarter as a substitute of his longer stint that often includes the primary quarter. Jaylen Brown additionally benefited from prolonged time with the complete second unit and Derrick White, benefiting from these early minutes, going +10 within the first half of the second quarter with that unit. A few of these choices might have been primarily based on matchups, nevertheless it was an attention-grabbing selection by Mazzulla to combine it up after one other tough begin among the many beginning 5.
Celtics’ 3-point taking pictures woes proceed: Boston has been in a tailspin with their 3-point accuracy numbers currently and that development continued as soon as once more on this one. The group opened the sport simply 1 of 11 from 3-point vary and recovered considerably because the half progressed, however nonetheless posted an unsightly 8 of 27 (29.6 p.c within the first half). -time). Porzingis continues to be up from 3-point vary, however Jaylen Brown and Derrick White stay down from the perimeter this month. The Celtics shot 29.5 p.c from 3-point vary this evening, or 13 of 44 from downtown.
Jayson Tatum retains the Celtics afloat from contained in the arc: The Celtics All-Star is mired in a 3-point hunch, like most different Celtics gamers. Nevertheless, he took it upon himself on this recreation to maintain the offense coming from different areas of the sector. Tatum made 12 of his 14 baskets from contained in the arc and in addition added eight free throws as he tried to punish a Pelicans protection that lacked towering rim safety. He scored 21 of his 38 factors within the second half and made a number of hard-nosed performs to assist the Celtics attain the end line.
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