Inside The Celtics

Celtics Dialed in Defensively in Double-Digit Win Over Pelicans

Bobby Krivitsky

Mar 30, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) shoots a jump shot.
Mar 30, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) shoots a jump shot. / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
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The New Orleans Pelicans started Saturday's matchup in the Big Easy with more energy and force than their guests. They built a 10-0 advantage in fastbreak scoring in the opening frame. Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum each registered 12 points, the most in the period, helping the hosts produce 18 in the paint. 

That included the former capitalizing on Kristaps Porzingis's giving him too much cushion in drop coverage as Jonas Valinciunas got Williamson the ball, and the six-foot-six, 284-pound forward plowed into Porzingis for two points through contact. There was also McCollum driving down an open lane, finishing with a tomahawk jam on a possession in the halfcourt.

That propelled the Pelicans to a 37-28 lead entering the second quarter.

That's when Boston struck back. The Celtics did a much better job defending in transition, again coughing up four turnovers but not surrendering any fastbreak points. They also limited New Orleans to six points in the paint and 31.8 percent shooting from the field, a testament to more on-ball resistance, physicality, and energy.

That includes a pair of blocks by Porzingis, who also earned two points by running the floor in transition, sealing Dyson Daniels, and getting rewarded with a dunk.

The Latvian native entered halftime with 11 points on 4/8 shooting and seven rebounds.

An example of the visitors raising their energy came on a sequence where Payton Pritchard's effort on the offensive glass drew a foul to extend a possession. Xavier Tillman then ensured that didn't go to waste. 

Taking advantage of no one getting a body on him, the former Michigan State Spartan tracked a miss on the opposite side of the rim from his initial positioning, then kicked the ball out to Jrue Holiday for a three.

There was also Jaylen Brown stripping Williamson, and Derrick White running the floor with him, cleaning up the former's miss. 

The 2022 All-NBA Second Team selection was holding his wrist after that play, his second injury scare of the first half. Earlier, he slipped on a wet spot and was on the floor, holding his right knee. Luckily, he stayed in the game after each instance.

The other half of the C's star wing tandem, Jayson Tatum, received a technical for waving off the lack of a foul call as the hosts physically defended the five-time All-Star. In this author's opinion, it was more an expression of frustration than showing up the official. Tony Brothers assessed the technical from the opposite side of the court.

Shortly after that, Tatum euro-stepped his way to a two-handed flush in transition for two of his team-high 13 points in the first half.

After Porzingis swatted a Larry Nance Jr. layup attempt at the other end, Derrick White drilled a buzzer-beater from 32 feet, sending the Celtics into the locker room with their first lead of the evening.

At the root of the visitors entering intermission with a 59-57 edge was their play at the defensive end, limiting New Orleans to 20 points in the second frame. 

They followed that up with effective ball movement, allowing them to parlay those stops into consistently creating quality looks. Boston shot 57.1 percent from the field, including 6/9 (66.7 percent) from beyond the arc, generating 31 points in the period.

The Celtics were even better on defense in the third quarter. From their on-ball defense to their rotations and shot contesting, they made life miserable for the hosts when the latter had the ball.

New Orleans went scoreless for over seven minutes to end the period, finishing the frame with 11 points on 17.4 percent shooting from the floor.

Those stops and limiting the Pelicans to one second-chance point helped fuel a 15-4 run that grew Boston's lead to 83-68 entering the last 12 minutes of the matchup.

After expanding the gap to 22, the visitors appeared to ease off the gas as the hosts staged an 8-0 run, pulling within 14, 92-78, with 6:34 left.

From there, the intensity of the competition amplified, but the Celtics kept New Orleans at arm's length, maintaining a double-digit lead.

And when Derrick White buried a three off the catch from above the break, extending the advantage to 104-90 with 1:21 remaining, it proved the dagger in Boston's 104-92 win in the Crescent City.

The Celtics are now on to a Monday night game against the Charlotte Hornets to cap their six-game road trip, their longest one this season. That matchup will tip off at 7:00 EST.

Further Reading

Jrue Holiday Sees Value in Celtics' Loss to Hawks: 'I'd Rather Do It Now'

Jaylen Brown Shares What's Fueling Career Year: 'Nothing in This World Gonna Break My Spirit'

Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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