Celtics hit 20 3s, beat Pelicans 117-109 in 9th straight win
By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS - Jaylen Brown had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Derrick White highlighted a 26-point performance with six 3-pointers, and the Boston Celtics beat the New Orleans Pelicans 117-109 on Friday night for their ninth straight win.
Jayson Tatum had 19 points and 10 assists for the Celtics, who combined to make 20 3s and shot 48.2% (41 of 85) overall. Al Horford was 4 of 5 from deep and scored 18 for Boston, which led by double digits for much of the game and by as many as 19.
Brandon Ingram hit season-high five 3s and scored 25 for New Orleans, which was playing without star power forward Zion Williamson (bruised right foot) for a third straight game. The Pelicans lost for the first time in four games.
CJ MCCollum scored 18 points and Herb Jones added 17 for New Orleans, which clawed back within striking distance when Ingram's 3 made it 105-97 with 3:54 to go. But Boston responded with a feisty sequence in which Horford rebounded Tatum's missed 3, and then Brown rebounded two of his own misses before converting a putback.
New Orleans never got closer than seven points after that.
Boston got off to a blazing start, hitting 10 times from deep in the first quarter - setting a franchise record for made 3s in a quarter - to take a 40-25 lead. Horford was 4 for 4 on 3s in the opening quarter.
Boston led by as many as 18 in the second quarter when Brogdon's 3 made it 43-25. But McCollum scored seven points in the Pelicans' 17-4 run to briefly cut it to 47-42.
Boston built its lead back up to 14 before Ingram's jumper and McCollum's short floater in the lane made it 67-57 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Made all nine of their free throws. ... Outrebounded New Orleans 35-29. ... Converted 11 Pelicans turnovers into 20 points.
Pelicans: Trey Murphy came out of the game and left the court with trainers in the second quarter with a sore right foot and did not return. ... Finished 9 for 23 from 3-point range. ... Outscored Boston 38-24 in the paint.
UP NEXT
Celtics: At Chicago on Monday night.
Pelicans: Host Golden State on Monday night.