Key Moment
Cause Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown to get mad during a game? You’re in trouble.
Anger both Jays at the same time? That's game over.
After being involved in back-to-back questionable calls toward the end of the second quarter Saturday evening, Tatum, Brown, and the rest of the team channeled their frustration into a 27-point swing in their favor.
The Celtics were trailing 56-51 when emotions began to rise, and the team went on a 41-14 run after that point to put the game away.
Around the one-minute mark, Tatum was called for a technical foul after becoming visibly frustrated by a non-call. On the very next possession, Brown was called for a contentious shooting foul on Zion Williamson, who missed both free throws in ball-don’t-lie fashion. After that, the Celtics scored eight points over the final 37 seconds of the half, including a Derrick White buzzer-beating three to put them up 59-57.
Boston carried its momentum into the third frame and put forth its best defensive quarter in nearly two-and-a-half years. The C’s outscored New Orleans, 24-11, marking the fewest points they’ve given up in a quarter since Nov. 13, 2021, when they surrendered nine points in the first frame at Cleveland.
From there, Boston kept building its lead well into the. The Pelicans went on a small run toward the end, but the game was never in doubt as the Celtics rolled to a 104-92 finish.
Key Player
Kristaps Porzingis had one of his more well-rounded performances in a Celtics uniform Saturday evening, leading the game in several statistical categories.
The 7-foot-3 center put up 19 points and three assists to go along with game-highs of 10 rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and a plus/minus rating of plus-12 in just over 31 minutes of action.
KP shot 5-of-8 from inside the 3-point arc and also made all six of his free-throw attempts.
Plus, his defense was spectacular against Pelicans' star Zion Williamson, whom he helped limit to just 3-of-9 shooting during the second half.
Box Score Nuggets
- The Celtics surrendered just 11 points in the third quarter, their best defensive quarter since 11/13/21 at Cleveland.
- Jayson Tatum finished as Boston's lone 20-point scorer with 23 points.
- All five Celtics starters had at least eight points by halftime.
- New Orleans lost by double-digits despite having the top two scorers in the game – Zion Williamson (25 points) and CJ McCollum (24 points).
- Kristaps Porzingis led the game outright in rebounds (10), blocks (four) and plus/minus (plus-12), and tied for the game lead in steals (two).
- Porzingis had one more block than the Pelicans had as a team (three).
- Both teams made 11 free throws, although New Orleans attempted six more (18) than Boston (12).
- Every Celtics starter except for Porzingis made exactly three 3-pointers.
- Boston allowed 10 offensive rebounds, but only seven second-chance points.
- It marked the 58th win of the season for Boston – its highest win total since winning 62 in 2008-09.
Quote of the Night
"I think sometimes you need to get punched in the mouth."
– Jrue Holiday on Boston turning the game around after trailing for most of the 1st half.