Kristaps Porzingis Shares Why Saturday's Win vs. Pelicans Mattered to Celtics

Bobby Krivitsky | Mar 30, 2024

Mar 30, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) blocks Zion Williamson. / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics entered Saturday's matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans atop the NBA standings, boasting a 57-16 record and having already clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They also figure to enter the playoffs with home-court advantage throughout the postseason, including if they reach the Finals.

But Boston also entered Saturday's game in the Big Easy having gotten swept in its mini-series vs. the Atlanta Hawks, with those matchups exemplifying that the C's haven't been as dialed in defensively.

That could've continued against the Pelicans in a low-stakes contest for the visitors. But playing a New Orleans team that's fighting for playoff positioning, sitting 1.5 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the fourth seed in the West and home court to start the postseason, and half-a-game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks, who are in sixth but are 9-1 in their last ten tilts, the Celtics took a different approach.

They locked in defensively in the second quarter, going from surrendering ten fast-break points in the first frame to none in the ensuing 12 minutes. Boston limited New Orleans to 31.8 percent shooting from the field and 20 points in the period.

The C's were even better in the third quarter, holding the hosts to 11 points on 17.4 percent shooting from the floor.

KP met Zion at the rim TWICE! 🚫🚫 pic.twitter.com/3JN9tnnNnW

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 30, 2024

The Pelicans registered only 55 points in the final 36 minutes. It's a testament to the pressure and the resistance the visitors provided on the ball, their rotations, and shot-contesting, and limiting their opposition to seven second-chance points.

After the Celtics' 104-92 win in the Crescent City, Kristaps Porzingis, who registered 19 points, ten rebounds, four blocks, and two steals, shared with Abby Chin of NBC Sports Boston why this game mattered to them.

"Once we hit another gear, the game just flipped"@tvabby caught up with Kristaps Porzingis after the Celtics were able to bounce-back and dominate in the 2nd half vs. the Pelicans pic.twitter.com/v2XjBxv7fR

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 30, 2024

"We want to be a hungry team no matter what," stated the seven-foot-three center. "We haven't done anything. And back-to-back losses to Atlanta, it's not our DNA, you know? And it just didn't sit right with us, so we came out here tonight and got us a W."