The New Orleans Pelicans played as well as anyone could have expected Sunday night, pushing the Boston Celtics to their limit before falling 120-119 in a nail-biter at TD Garden. CJ McCollum had a chance to play the hero in the final seconds after Boston committed a 5-second violation with 6.6 seconds left, but his floater clanged off the rim as time expired. Despite the loss, the Pelicans showcased flashes of what they could be with a healthy roster, spearheaded by Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III.
Winning the Zion Minutes
The Pelicans have now won the minutes with Zion on the court in both games since his return from injury. For better or worse, no one on this roster impacts the game like he does. Williamson’s presence was felt on the defensive end, with Zion collecting five steals—bringing his total to eight across two games since his return. Considering he had just four steals in the six games he played earlier this season, his defensive engagement has been a very positive development.
On the offensive end, Zion scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 28 minutes against an elite Celtics defense. With Williamson on the floor, the Pelicans have shown they can compete with the league’s best, and Sunday night was no exception.
Trey Murphy Shines Again
Trey Murphy III continues to cement himself as a rising star, pouring in 30 points against one of the league’s top defenses. The Celtics had no answer for Murphy’s sharpshooting, as he drilled at least four three-pointers for the ninth time this season. What makes his performance even more impressive is the context: Murphy has now scored 30 points against the Grizzlies, Heat, and Celtics—three of the NBA’s top nine defenses.
Murphy’s offensive explosion also marked his 13th 20-point game of the season, matching his total from all of last year. Trey is showing that he can be more than just a complimentary player for the Pelicans and may be ready for a bigger role in the future.
The Celtics Escape
Boston, led by Jayson Tatum’s game-high 38 points and Kristaps Porzingis’ 19-point, 11-rebound double-double, managed to overcome another poor shooting night. The Celtics shot just 13-for-44 from three (29.5%) and struggled to put the game away, nearly squandering a five-point lead in the final 22 seconds. However, they dominated the offensive glass and capitalized on Pelicans mistakes in crunch time to eke out the victory.
Bright Spots Amidst the Struggles
While the loss stings, there are reasons for optimism in New Orleans. Dejounte Murray, who has struggled to find his rhythm this season, had his best first quarter of the year with 17 points, including five three-pointers. Though he cooled off in the second half, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, his hot start showed the potential impact he can have when he’s clicking.
The Pelicans also outshot the Celtics from three, converting 16-of-32 attempts (50%) compared to Boston’s 13-of-44.
Looking Ahead
At 8-32, the Pelicans remain near the bottom of the standings, but their play with a more complete roster offers hope for a brighter second half of the season. The team has the talent to compete with the best in the league on a nightly basis. However, as Sunday night’s game showed, closing games against elite competition requires more discipline in critical moments.
The Pelicans now head to Chicago to face the Bulls on Tuesday, looking to build on their strong showing in Boston. For the Pelicans, the margin between victory and defeat has been razor-thin all season. If they can channel the positives from Sunday’s game—and avoid the late-game miscues—they could finally start to string together some wins.
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