Everything you need to know about the Pelicans' win over the Celtics with BSJ insight and analysis
Box Score
HEADLINES
Celtics can’t dig themselves out of early hole: Kemba Walker scored a game-high 35 points but it was not enough for a shorthanded Celtics squad missing Jayson Tatum and Enes Kanter. The Pelicans had their way on the offensive end all night long, leading by as many as 23 in a 123-108 victory. Zion Williamson posted 21 points and 11 rebounds in his first career win while Jrue Holiday added 25 points for the hosts as a fully healthy Pelicans squad looked far superior to the 18-29 squad that they’ve been to date.
Boston struggled mightily on the glass in this one as the Pelicans piled up 18 offensive rebounds while also shooting 44 percent from 3-point range, scoring 29 points or more in all four quarters. Gordon Hayward added 25 points and Jaylen Brown scored 20 points in his return from a sprained ankle but it was not enough to keep pace with the Pelicans firepower, especially with Boston’s bench getting outscored 38-8.
The C’s have their three-game winning streak snapped and head now to close out their three-game road trip with a matchup in Miami Tuesday night.
Celtics and Pelicans pay tribute to Kobe to open the game: The shocking death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter in a tragic helicopter crash that killed nine was an understandable focus of the night from the opening tip. Both teams traded 24-second violations to start the game as a way of paying tribute to the Hall of Fame legend. Postgame, Gordon Hayward, Brad Stevens and Jaylen Brown among others fought back tears while speaking about the player that served as an idol to many on the court.
Jayson Tatum could return Tuesday, longer wait for Kanter: The Celtics have a critical test looming on Tuesday night in Miami against a Heat team fighting with them for the No. 2 seed in the standings. Stevens said after the game that Tatum was close to a return after missing his second straight game with a sore groin. Enes Kanter will not make the trip to Miami but is questionable to play for Thursday’s game against the Warriors when the Celtics return to Boston.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics trimmed a 23-point Pelicans lead all the way down to six early in the fourth quarter but the Pelicans fought back with an 8-0 run of their own to push to lead back into double digits. The visitors never seriously threatened again after that outburst.
TWO UP
Daniel Theis: The German big man flirted with another season-high, scoring 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting and grabbing a team-high 9 rebounds. The center is shooting 65 percent from the field in his last four games.
Kemba Walker: The point guard shook off a brutal first quarter (0-of-6) to keep the C’s offense afloat in this one with a game-high 35 points. He also was a perfect 11-of-11 from the line and was a plus-4 in the double-digit loss. The All-Star starter is shooting 45 percent from 3-point range over the last four games.
TWO DOWN
Defensive rebounding: The Celtics didn’t look like they wanted to be on the court for much of this one and it was apparent with their effort on the glass. The Pelicans pulled down 18 offensive rebounds which led to 18 second-chance points. Combine that with above-average 47 percent shooting from the field and the C’s couldn’t get stops all night.
3-point defense: Five different Pelicans hit multiple 3s with several coming wide-open in transition as the C’s defense did not stay disciplined for most of the night, failing to make necessary rotations. The 44 percent shooting from downtown was the fifth-worst shooting night allowed all season by the C’s.
TOP PLAY
Walker steals it, Brown hits the corner three
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— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) January 27, 2020
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
The Celtics were understandably not fully engaged in this one mentally: Many players on the Celtics had strong connections to Kobe Bryant and taking the floor just hours after the tragic death of the basketball legend clearly weighed heavily on the players from both teams. Logistically, it may have been a nightmare to postpone games but that did not make it any easier for the players to fight through the shock and execute. The first quarter was full of uncharacteristic mistakes on the defensive end for the C’s, creating a hole they were unable to dig out of over the final three quarters. For that reason, it’s tough to take too much out of this contest. The C’s didn’t deserve to win but expecting their best effort was a stretch.
Brad Wanamaker’s shooting slump is becoming worrisome: The primary backup guard did not get off the bench in the second half after the C’s were outscored by 16 points in his six first-half minutes. He only took one shot on the night but is shooting just 19 percent from 3-point range over the last 15 games, preventing Boston from having a reliable perimeter threat off the bench in the backcourt. Carsen Edwards got a chance in the second half and held up well (despite missing two shots) but a backcourt shooter is suddenly looking like a bigger need for the bench than almost anywhere else on the roster.