BOSTON — In a closely contested match on Sunday, the Boston Celtics triumphed over the New Orleans Pelicans with a final score of 120-119, thanks to Jayson Tatum’s impressive performance of 38 points and 11 rebounds, alongside Kristaps Porzingis, who contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 30 points, while Zion Williamson managed to score 16 points in his comeback after serving a one-game suspension for tardiness to team obligations. Williamson also grabbed seven rebounds during his 28 minutes on the court.
The Pelicans started strong, establishing an 11-point lead in the first quarter. They capitalized on a sluggish start from the Celtics, who struggled to make their shots, converting only one of their first 11 attempts from beyond the arc. Boston ultimately finished the game making 13 out of 44 three-point attempts, shooting 43.6% overall from the field.
Observations from the game revealed that while the Pelicans can remain competitive when Williamson is active, his participation has been hampered dramatically by injuries and recent suspensions, thus limiting him to just eight games out of the first 40 of the season. Meanwhile, the Celtics, the reigning champions, managed to secure a win against a struggling team, bringing their record to 7-6 over the past 13 games.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred with just seven seconds remaining. Holding a narrow one-point lead, the Celtics faced difficulty with an inbound play. Derrick White attempted to call a timeout but was instead penalized for a five-second violation. The Pelicans seized the opportunity, passing the ball to CJ McCollum, who drove towards the hoop but ultimately missed a contested layup, leading to a game-ending rebound as time ran out.
In terms of standout statistics, Dejounte Murray made a significant impact, scoring 17 points within the first two quarters and finishing the game with 26 points, along with nine rebounds and eight assists.
Looking ahead, the Pelicans are set to play against the Bulls on Tuesday, while the Celtics will face off with the Raptors on Wednesday.
