Jayson Tatum scored 23 points, helping the Boston Celtics recover from two losses against Atlanta. They secured a 104-92 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
Kristaps Porziņģis also contributed 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocked shots, while Jaylen Brown added 17 points. The Celtics, with a record of 58-16, avoided what would have been their first three-game losing streak of the year.
Derrick White scored 15 points, and Jrue Holiday had 13 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds. For New Orleans, Zion Williamson scored 25 points, and CJ McCollum added 24. Porzingis emphasized that winning was important, but playing well mattered more.
Boston took control in the third quarter, holding New Orleans to just 11 points, with Porzingis contributing two blocks.
The Celtics led 79-68 after Tatum’s 3-pointer and maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the game, eventually winning by 22 points in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics focused on defending against open 3-point shots and directing the Pelicans to the basket, where Porzingis was ready to defend.
New Orleans struggled in the third quarter, shooting just 4 of 23, with Williamson missing all five of his attempts. Boston’s defense, led by Jaylen Brown, made it challenging for Williamson to score.
Despite New Orleans leading by 11 points in the first half, Boston rallied back, tying the game at 44 points in the second quarter.
