Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Derrick White Delivers Knockout Blow in Celtics' Heavyweight Slugfest vs. Pelicans
Monday night's matchup at TD Garden proved to be a heavyweight slugfest.
Brandon Ingram skillfully and methodically set up, then knocked down one turnaround jump shot after another, matching Jayson Tatum for a game-high 28 points.
Zion Williamson displayed his impressive combination of power and finesse, barreling his way to 26 points. Twenty-two came in the paint, and four were at the free-throw line.
While Tatum led the hosts' offensive counterstrike, their defense, which limited the visitors to 10/35 (28.6 percent) from beyond the arc after a 5/7 start from three-point range and forced New Orleans into 12 turnovers, fueled them operating at a faster pace after a slow-tempo first quarter.
Both halves of their star wing tandem played crucial roles in that, taking away passing lanes, challenging shots, and fighting to wall off drives.
Tatum stuffed the stat sheet, combining his 28 points with eight assists and three steals, each of which were game-highs. He also registered ten rebounds and a rejection.
Jaylen Brown finished with 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, the most in the contest, seven assists, a block, and no turnovers.
Jrue Holiday, who often steps up as a scorer when another starter is out, as was the case with Kristaps Porzingis unavailable due to the left ankle sprain he suffered in last Thursday's 143-110 victory vs. the Miami Heat, generated 12 points in the third quarter.
The two-time All-Star, who finished with 20 points, also dished out two assists and grabbed two offensive rebounds that period. The Celtics don't win this game without his performance in the first 12 minutes after halftime.
They also got 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, a block, and stellar defense from Al Horford.
Those efforts dug the hosts out of a 17-point hole, kept them within striking distance, and set up Derrick White's delivering the knockout blow.
The former Colorado Buffalo, who started 1/9 and had missed 16 of his last 17 shots, throwing his hands to the sky upon seeing a three finally go in, broke out of his shooting slump and turned into a flame thrower, erupting for 13 of his 17 points in the final frame, drilling 5/6 shots, including 3/4 from beyond the arc.
White continuing to let it fly without hesitation as he worked to get his groove back is a testament to his maturation into a more confident player than in years past. It's a microcosm of the growth that has the Celtics more prepared than in recent years to raise Banner 18 to the TD Garden rafters.
Now for further exploration into what stood out as Monday's 118-112 win over the Pelicans unfolded.
1. Picking up where they left off in Saturday night's 115-96 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Celtics took more than half of their 24 first-quarter attempts from beyond the arc, faring a frigid 3/12 (25 percent).
Creating quality looks that consistently fell off the mark was the primary culprit behind Boston trailing 36-25 after the first 12 minutes of play. It's only the third time this season that they've been behind by double digits entering the second frame.
2. While the hosts produced ten points in the paint and got seven from their second unit, the Pelicans generated a 6-0 advantage in points off turnovers despite both teams having three giveaways. Not all of New Orleans' were live-ball turnovers, but missed opportunities in transition sting even more when threes aren't falling.
3. In the first 45 games of the 2023-24 campaign, the Celtics trailed by 17 or more only four times. Monday marked the fifth.
The key to digging out of that hole was picking up the pace, consistently pushing off makes, and creating more transition opportunities. Doing so sparked more advantageous offensive setups and a 10-2 run to pull within nine, 46-37, with 6:07 left in the second quarter.
4. Boston entered halftime trailing 60-50, with an increased tempo at the root of why it wasn't down by more.
While both teams manufactured 24 points in the paint in the opening 24 minutes, Brandon Ingram, who registered 15 points, pacing all participants entering intermission, led the charge for a Pelicans team that shot 51.1 percent from the field.
Ingram methodically went to work against whoever Joe Mazzulla threw at him in an attempt to slow him down, consistently elevating for turnaround jump shots.
The visitors also got ten points apiece from CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas and knocked down 7/18 (38.9 percent) of their threes.
Jayson Tatum, the lone member of the hosts to score in double figures in the first half, put 14 points on the board for a team that fared 6/25 (24 percent) from beyond the arc.
5. Jayson Tatum, the lone member of the hosts to score in double figures in the first half, put 14 points on the board for a team that fared 6/25 (24 percent) from beyond the arc.
Two of those points came from posting up McCollum. It's a strategy that also worked when Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown got their opportunities against him in the low post. It's a strategy the hosts should turn to more in the second half, especially if their three-point shooting doesn't improve.
6. While getting off to better starts in the second half remains a work in progress, on Monday night, the Celtics outpaced the Pelicans 10-2 to open the third quarter. That included multiple mid-range pull-ups by Jaylen Brown and an Al Horford three to trim the deficit to 62-60.
With Boston pushing the pace consistently, playing with more energy and hustle, and New Orleans suddenly 2-16 from beyond the arc after starting 5/7, the visitors found themselves on their backfoot.
7. The hosts even took the lead, pulling ahead 74-73, courtesy of a Jaylen Brown Tommy Point, taking to the parquet and coming up with a loose ball that led to a Sam Hauser three, drawing an eruption from the TD Garden faithful.
But credit the Pelicans, with momentum firmly on the other side, they countered with a 14-7 close to the quarter, as Zion Williams registered nine points in the period, and they scored 16 from inside the paint.
Their surge and Boston's inability to close the frame out properly resulted in New Orleans leading 87-81 entering the last 12 minutes.
8. With both teams trading blows in the final frame, as Williamson barreled his way to the basket and Ingram continued skillfully setting up, then knocking down turnaround jump shots, the Celtics saw Derrick White shake off a recent cold streak that included a 1/9 start on Monday.
The former Colorado Buffalo didn't just heat up, but he led the hosts' charge, erupting for 13 points on 5/6 shooting, letting threes fly without hesitation, and attacking downhill for points around the rim. It reflects how much more confident of a player he's become.
And in a game that turned into a heavyweight slugfest, White's the one who delivered the knockout blow, propelling the hosts to a 118-112 victory.
Further Reading
Jrue Holiday Hopes Celtics Tenure Extends Beyond This Season
Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'
Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Top Heat in One of Their Best Performances This Season
Celtics Finding Joy in Basketball and Each Other's Company: 'We've Been Blessed'
Fixated on Winning, Jayson Tatum Again Proves He's Not 'Bored Making the Right Play Over and Over'
Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So
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'
Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'
