By Rell Wrights Pelicans Contributor
The New Orleans Pelicans battled fiercely but were narrowly edged out by the Boston Celtics, 118-116, in a thrilling Friday night showdown. Trey Murphy III delivered a career-best performance, pouring in 40 points and hitting 8 of 12 from beyond the arc, keeping the short-handed Pelicans within striking distance throughout the game.
Despite missing Zion Williamson due to illness and losing Dejounte Murray to a first-quarter injury, New Orleans displayed grit, with Jose Alvarado adding 20 points and CJ McCollum contributing 17, including a clutch tying basket with 24 seconds left. However, Jayson Tatum sealed the Celtics’ victory with a contested jumper over McCollum with just 0.7 seconds on the clock.
The Pelicans showed resilience despite the absence of key players, maintaining intensity against one of the league’s top teams. While Murphy’s breakout night showcased his scoring versatility, New Orleans couldn’t contain the Celtics’ balanced attack, which featured 28 points from Jaylen Brown and 27 from Tatum. Luke Kornet and Kristaps Porzingis added crucial contributions in the fourth quarter, helping Boston establish a lead before the Pelicans’ late surge.
As the team prepares for a tough road trip beginning in Denver, their competitive performance highlights their depth and determination but underscores the need for more consistent execution, particularly in crunch time.
