The Boston Celtics (34-10) were defeated after seven victories in a row. The New Orleans pelicans (22-20) defeated Daniel Theis’s team 116:113 after extra time. The outstanding Anthony Davis, who scored 45 points, was not up to the task.
After a four-day break after the London Game, Celtics were initially unconcentrated. Four of the first eight possessions resulted in a ball loss. The outstanding Anthony Davis (17 points in the first quarter) could not be stopped at first. New Orleans then had problems with some reservists with their offense, while Terry Rozier’s Celtics got important scoring.
In Boston, Jayson Tatum, who made the garden tremble with his handles and on the other side cleared Jrue Holiday. In the second quarter, the Pels also left a few light layers of loosens. With Davis, however, the dynamics changed again. Al Horford’s brow hung the third foul on Al Horford’s brow, and a corner three-wayer from Rajon Rondo gave the guests the first two-digit lead. Kyrie Irving did not play on the other side in the first half (0/5 FG, 3 TO). Accordingly, the guests were paused at 58:48.
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Celtics, as in London, came out of the cabin in a different way. It only took four minutes, then the match was even after an 11-0 run. Irving and Horford now met their litters, the Pels acted too erratically and approved Boston a corner trio after the next. But the guests fidgeted, also because Davis kept scoring. In the middle of the fourth quarter, however, the game was balanced again, after Daniel Theis got the offense rebound against AD and Jaylen Brown served for the Dunk (95:95). It was also Theis who brought Celtics the highest lead of the evening (5 points) with a threesome.
The pels were almost five minutes without a field goal, but Ian Clark and Holiday equalled the score one minute before the end. Irving dropped a free-throw while Davis hit his two attempts on the other side. 20 seconds before the end the brow went back to the line and scuttled a 104:102 for the Pels. The Celtics scores quickly after a break because Davis Irving couldn’t stop the drive. Boogie got the last litter, but Theis defended strongly. There was overtime.
There, no team could stop the other team. Irving and Davis continued to bolster their scores. Celtics led with three, but cousins and Holiday with two jumpers shot the game again. Irving tried to force the second overtime, but his threesome was too short. The Pelicans triumphed. Uncle Drew was nevertheless top scorer of the Celtics with 27 points (8/24 FG), but also recorded 6 turnovers. Al Horford scored 14 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Daniel Theis (7,3 Rebounds, 2 Assists) also played good minutes.
Apart from Davis (45,16/34 FG, 16 Rebounds) and Holiday (23,7 Assists) were convincing at the Pels. DeMarcus Cousins had some problems, but scored 19 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists.
Celtics vs. Pelicans: This way to the BOXSCORE!
Anthony Davis. After scoring 48 points against the Knicks, Braue followed 45 against Celtics. The Power Forward did what he wanted in the Zone. Some jumpers also fell, so AD wasn’t defensible. His 8 offensive rebounds were also essential for the Pels. Towards the end of the fourth quarter, he held up against the push of the Celtics and thus prevented a possible Celtics victory.
Marcus Smart. Of course he had his numerous Hustle Plays again, but also some dropouts. He took a lot of hasty litters and dives. Attempts he wasn’t supposed to take. Nevertheless, Stevens trusted him in the decisive phase. With Holiday, however, his opponent with two jumpers was responsible for the Pels victory with Holiday. 5/14 from the field and a plus minus of -19 are also no glory scoresheet.
Anthony Davis was unstoppable. Brad Stevens tried Horford, Aron Baynes, Theis or Morris, but the damage could only be limited. Morris, mostly used as Stretch Four, also saw minutes on the three against the big pels. There he played his advantage and hit isolated jumpers in the first half, which Celtics held at the end of the second quarter. Theis also became important for Boston because he had a good grip on cousins and earned minutes in the crunchtime.