BSJ Game Report: Celtics 118, Pelicans 112 - Derrick White's late heroics fuel Boston rally

Everything you need to know about the Celtics win over the Pelicans, with BSJ insight and analysis

IN A NUTSHELL

The Celtics looked very much like they did in the Clippers game early in this game, missing a lot of good looks and giving up shots that might have been a little too clean for New Orleans. They fell behind by 17 early in the second quarter, but then some shots actually fell and they went on a little run to cut the lead to 10 at half. The Celtics actually took the lead in the third but gave up a run to head into the fourth down six. They fought back to tie it, and just when it looked like Zion Williamson had every answer, Derrick White caught fire and the Celtics whipped off a huge run to pull away.

Box Score

HEADLINES 

- This is why you don't stop shooting: White was 1-7 and incredibly frustrated. Then he finally hit one and he just kept making shots. 

“Everyone was just telling me like, stay confident, keep shooting,” White said. “They were just trusting me and so it's good to reward that trust in my teammates or from my teammates … it's good to make that one, but really just do whatever it takes to help us win that game.”

- Bouncing back: Boston has lost 11 games this season. After all but one of those, they’ve found a way to win. This was not exactly pristine basketball, but the most important thing at this point of the season is finding a way to win. They took a punch from Williamson, overcame their own mistakes, and stuck with the plan until it finally kicked in. 

- Response to pressure: The Celtics found the way to close things out while the Pelicans folded under the pressure of holding onto a lead. That's nothing new for the Pelicans, who were very complicit in their own demise. One team kept their composure, the other didn’t. 

TURNING POINT

It was 94-86 New Orleans when the Celtics got a second chance off Al Horford’s miss. Sam Hauser’s 3-pointer lit the fuse on a 32-18 close to the game that featured a White takeover and some energized defense … and a little bit of the Pelicans falling apart. 

Side note: That second chance was because Williamson couldn't secure an open rebound because of an awkward bounce. You never know when a little thing like that can turn into a big thing. When people like me say “this is why you play the full 48 minutes,” this is the kind of stuff I’m talking about. 

THINGS I LIKED

- Derrick White sticking with it: Early in the fourth quarter, I had “Derrick White’s shooting” as one of the things I didn’t like. Then he hit his next three and completely dominated down the stretch. So, you’re welcome. 

Seriously, it’s impressive that he kept his head during this horrible stretch and finished the way he did. That's not easy. I’ll have more on this separately. 

- The Jays: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 50 points, 21 rebounds, and 15 assists in this game. Their 3-point shooting wasn’t really there the whole night, but they each made big shots in the fourth quarter. Tatum scored 14 in the fourth, attacking the rim like crazy and getting to the line. 

- Al Horford’s offensive rebound in the fourth: This was a big boy play… 

via GIPHY

And it came at a critical time. A six-point lead at that time felt so important the way the Pelicans were shooting 3-pointers. Any multiple of three felt pretty good. 

- Jrue Holiday: We can’t forget about his 12-point third quarter. He was everywhere for Boston in the third, and was a key reason the Celtics even had a chance to do what they did in the fourth. 

- Sam Hauser: Shook off early struggles to make some key shots. 

- Neemias Queta: Once again stepped in when Boston was down two bigs. He had a couple of buckets in the second off Brown feeds to help Boston win that quarter, and he had some stops at the rim. 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

- Jayson Tatum’s turnovers: He threw some tough passes that got picked off. He had eight assists, three steals, and a block and the seven turnovers nearly negated all that other good work he did. 

- Payton Pritchard: Rough matchup for him. The Pelicans were just too big for him. Single game +/- is always a tricky stat but his -8 was completely accurate. 

HIGHLIGHTS

ONE TAKE KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- This is a big win for Joe Mazzulla and math: The Pelicans made three more shots and took six more field goal attempts but Boston got to the line seven more times and made seven more 3-pointers. 

The fact is that there is a necessary balance between attacking and shooting. We saw both down the stretch. They wouldn’t have won that game if Tatum settled for 3-pointers and didn’t drive. They also wouldn’t have won if Derrick White passed up on those 3-point attempts because he wasn’t hitting them. 

The lesson is that you don’t stop doing one or the other because you’re not getting the right result. You keep doing what is right in the moment because playing the right way will yield the right results more often than not. 

That means sometimes it won’t, and we have to understand that will be the case. Sometimes, it won’t work for a whole game, and maybe sometimes, it’ll be multiple games. But also, sometimes it’ll be for parts of a game, and things will change. 

This is the classic “process over results” stuff that Brad Stevens started preaching a decade ago when he joined the team. The math works. The plan works. 

Next up: The Celtics turn right around and play tomorrow night as the homestand rolls on with the Pacers in town.