Celtics Clinch Second Seed with Blowout Win Over Shorthanded Pelicans

Boston's record-setting three-point shooting fuels dominant victory

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:48am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a Celtics player shooting a three-pointer, with the basketball and player's form broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of green, blue, and white.The Celtics' barrage of three-pointers overwhelmed the Pelicans in a lopsided victory that clinched the second seed in the East.New Orleans Today

The Boston Celtics, without star Jayson Tatum, pounced on the shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans early and buried them under an avalanche of three-pointers to win easily, 142-114. The victory clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference for the Celtics, who set a franchise record with 29 made three-pointers in the game.

Why it matters

The Celtics' dominant performance, even without Tatum, demonstrates their depth and firepower as they head into the playoffs. The Pelicans, who rested several key players, showed the challenges of competing against a top team when shorthanded. The game also highlighted the Celtics' improved three-point shooting, which could be a major weapon in the postseason.

The details

The Celtics jumped out to a 24-11 lead in the first quarter, fueled by 10 made three-pointers. Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown combined for 22 points in the opening period. The Celtics continued their barrage from deep, growing their lead to as many as 41 points. They tied the NBA record with 29 made three-pointers, though they were unable to break the record on the final attempt. Pritchard had a standout game with 21 points and 10 assists, while Sam Hauser shot 8-for-12 from three-point range.

  • The Celtics clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference with the victory.
  • The Celtics tied the NBA record with 29 made three-pointers in the game.

The players

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' star scored 23 points but also had 7 turnovers in the game.

Sam Hauser

The Celtics' sharpshooter had a career-high 24 points, going 8-for-12 from three-point range.

Payton Pritchard

The Celtics' backup point guard had a standout game with 21 points and 10 assists.

Neemias Queta

The Celtics' center became the first Celtic with at least 100 blocks, 600 rebounds and 60 steals in a season since Robert Parish in 1990-91.

Nikola Vucevic

The Celtics' veteran center had 14 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, continuing to build chemistry with his new team.

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What they’re saying

“You underestimate how difficult it was for the transition that he made going from Chicago where he's starting and has developed habits and has a ton of knowns, and just has a lot of comfortability and coming to a completely different situation, where he's coming off the bench and trying to figure it out.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Head Coach

What’s next

The Celtics will look to continue their strong play as they prepare for the playoffs. Their final regular season game is on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.

The takeaway

The Celtics' dominant win over the shorthanded Pelicans showcased their depth, three-point shooting prowess, and ability to win convincingly even without their top star. As they head into the playoffs, the Celtics appear to be rounding into form and will be a formidable opponent for any team they face.