The Boston Celtics tied an NBA record by making 29 3-point field goals and secured the No. 2 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 144-118 Friday night.
Boston (55-26) took 59 3-point shots but didn’t put up a shot on its final possession. The record for made 3-pointers in a game is also shared by the 2020 Milwaukee Bucks, the 2024 Celtics and the 2026 Memphis Grizzlies.
The Celtics received 24 points from Sam Hauser, who was 8 of 12 from 3-point territory. Jaylen Brown scored 23 and Payton Pritchard finished with 21 points and 10 assists.
Jeremiah Fears led New Orleans (26-55) with 36. Derik Queen added 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Jordan Hawkins contributed 20 points.
Jayson Tatum (right Achilles repair management) didn’t suit up for Boston, which was playing its second game in as many nights.
The New Orleans injury report listed the following players as out: Bryce McGowens (toe fracture), Yves Missi (finger), Trey Murphy III (ankle), Dejounte Murray (hand), Zion Williamson (knee), Saddiq Bey (rest), Herbert Jones (rest) and Karlo Matkovic (back). Murphy (21.5 ppg), Williamson (21.0), Bey (17.7) and Murray (16.7) are the team’s top four scorers.
Boston made 10 3-pointers in the opening quarter and had a 44-25 lead entering the second. Five players made at least one 3-pointer for the Celtics in the first 12 minutes.
The Celtics stretched their lead to 82-46 on a Jordan Walsh 3-pointer with 1:05 left in the first half. Boston hit 61.7% from the field, including 56.7% (17 of 30) from long distance, in the first two quarters and had an 82-51 halftime lead.
Boston surpassed the 100-point mark on a Brown layup that put the Celtics in front 101-61 with 7:09 remaining in the third. New Orleans cut the deficit to 26 points in the fourth, but an 11-0 run gave Boston a 137-97 edge.
