Jayson Tatum tallied 23 points, propelling the Boston Celtics to a 104-92 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, bouncing back from consecutive losses to Atlanta. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocked shots, while Jaylen Brown added 17 points. With this win, the Celtics, holding the NBA’s best record at 58-16, avoided what would have been their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Derrick White recorded 15 points, and Jrue Holiday posted 13 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds for the Celtics. Meanwhile, Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 25 points, supported by CJ McCollum’s 24 points.

Porzingis emphasized that brеɑkinɡ the two-game losing streak, only the third such instance for the Celtics this season, was less crucial than delivering a strong performance. Boston seized control in the third quarter, limiting New Orleans to just 11 points, with Porzingis contributing two crucial blocks during this period. The Celtics extended their lead to 79-68 on Tatum’s 3-pointer with 4:12 remaining in the third quarter and maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game, eventually stretching it to 22 points in the fourth quarter.

Boston’s defensive strategy focused on denying open 3-point shots and directing the Pelicans towards the basket, where Porzingis stood ready to defend. The Pelicans struggled in the third quarter, shooting just 4 of 23 from the field, with Williamson failing to score despite five attempts, largely due to Brown’s defensive efforts.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla commended Brown for his defensive prowess against Williamson, limiting his impact on the game. Despite New Orleans initially taking an 11-point lead in the first half, Boston steadily clawed back, eventually tying the game at 44 before taking the lead at halftime. The Celtics continued their momentum into the third quarter, ultimately securing the victory.

Brandon Ingram missed his fifth consecutive game for the Pelicans due to a ƅоnе bгᴜise in his left knee. New Orleans aimed to reach 18 games above .500 for the first time since April 12, 2009, when they had a record of 49-31.