Celtics Escape with Thrilling One-Point Win Over Pelicans
The Boston Celtics defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 120-119 on Sunday night. New Orleans came into the game sitting in last place in the Western Conference, with a record of 8-31, and Boston came in second in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 28-11. Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Trey Murphy scored 30 points and hit five triples. Boston won despite shooting 29 percent from deep, and New Orleans shot 45 percent from deep.
New Orleans jumped out to a nine-point lead early behind a pair of triples from Dejounte Murray. Boston took its first lead of the game when Payton Pritchard hit a three-pointer to put Boston up 49-47. Boston took a one-point lead heading into the break. The third quarter remained tight, and Javonte Green hit a floater to end the third quarter to make it a two-point game. Tatum launched 10 triples and made two. He had a good number of open looks that did not go in for him. Boston’s switch defense gave Zion Williamson trouble. Williamson scored just 16 points. Boston made him take shots he normally does not take, as Williamson took two attempts from deep. Williamson is averaging less than one attempt from deep per game.
Boston’s drive and kick game generated 44 attempts from downtown. In the game, the Celtics generated just 13 makes. Boston’s rim pressure from their drive game put the Pelicans’ defense in a stingy situation, and that resulted in a handful of wide-open looks for Boston. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown just flat-out missed tonight, combining for a zero-for-seven performance from deep. Late in the fourth quarter, Murray was fouled on a three-pointer and made all three free throws to give the Pelicans a 115-114 lead. Tatum immediately responded with a cut to the basket for a dunk. The Celtics held a one-point lead with six seconds and were called for a five-second violation. On the next play, CJ McCollum, who has enjoyed a hot stretch in recent games, put up a floater off the glass that was off the mark, and the Celtics held on for the win. Boston has now won five of seven, and New Orleans has won three of six.
