Jay’s enforces their laws on the Pelicans

When it’s not one, it’s the other… or sometimes both! Already greatly diminished, the Pelicans fell to the Brown-Tatum duo at their basketball peak, and they lost 125-114 on the Celtics floor. This was Boston’s 4th straight win, and 8th in 10 games. It was Al Horford, on a 3-pointer, that put the Celtics on the right track, followed by Jayson Tatum’s 9-0 launch early in the 2nd quarter.

But conversely, one player is also at the top of his basketball: CJ McCollum. The New Orleans back would doubt the Celtics for halftime with 22 points on 6-of-7 3-pointers! On the Celtics side, Jaylen Brown already has a double-double in his pocket, and Boston joins the locker room with a six-point lead (64-58).

It’s Malcolm Brogdon who will provide that extra spark in the 3rd quarter, backed up by the excellent Brown. The Celtics back put the total on Trey Murphy III between a fadeaway and a spin move, and he led by 12 points (97-85), while already on 36 points.

In the final quarter, the gap even reached 15 points, but CJ McCollum again brought the Pelicans back under 10 points with 7 minutes remaining.

It was a New Orleans back against the rest of the world, and the Celtics, by “Jay’s”, responded with 11-3 to break again, and validate this 4th win in a row (125-114). .

WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER

A complementary duet. This season, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have probably never played this well together, and tonight they had 72 points, 25-of-43 shooting. This is the 19th time in their careers that they have surpassed 30 points together in the same game. Celtics record? 18 wins to 1 loss.

rebounds. But missing Robert Williams III, spared any surprises tonight against the Nets, the Celtics largely dominated under the panel: 50 taken to 33, with 11 offensive rebounds, and just 4 left on the other side of the court. At the break, the Celtics had 12 more rebounds than the Pelicans.

TOPS/FLOPS

✅ Jaylene Brown. When he’s on target from distance, like tonight, it opens up the game for him, and his strength does the rest. He was in “attack mode” all night.

✅ Jason Tatum. For once, he’s a Lieutenant, but he knows how to make the difference when needed like in the 2nd Quarter, or in the last five minutes.

✅ Malcom Brogdon. Very clean game, 20 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists off the bench. The Pelicans had no replacement at that level that night.

✅ CJ McCollum. He has held the team back since Zion Williamson’s injury. His first round was a very high level.

⛔Larry Nance Jr.. 0 points in 20 minutes at +/- of -20. Pelican’s usual 6th person game without.

FOLLOWER

Boston (30-12) : surprise tonight in Brooklyn.

New Orleans (25-17) : Friday trip to Detroit.