Celtics clinch No. 2 seed in East with easy win over Pelicans

Boston secures home-court advantage for first round of NBA playoffs

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:14am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the energy and movement of a basketball game, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the players and the action on the court.The Celtics' decisive victory over the Pelicans secures home-court advantage for the first round of the NBA playoffs, setting the stage for a potential deep postseason run.Boston Today

The Boston Celtics clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a convincing victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. The win ensures the Celtics will have home-court advantage for the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Why it matters

The Celtics have been one of the top teams in the East all season and securing the No. 2 seed is a significant accomplishment. Home-court advantage could prove crucial in a tight playoff series, giving the Celtics an edge as they look to make a deep postseason run.

The details

The Celtics dominated the Pelicans from start to finish, leading by as many as 25 points. Boston's balanced scoring attack was led by Jayson Tatum's 28 points, while Jaylen Brown added 22 points. The Celtics' stifling defense held the Pelicans to just 41% shooting from the field.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 11, 2026.
  • The Celtics clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with the win.

The players

Jayson Tatum

All-Star forward for the Boston Celtics.

Jaylen Brown

All-Star guard for the Boston Celtics.

Sam Hauser

Forward for the Boston Celtics.

Micah Peavy

Guard for the New Orleans Pelicans.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was an important game for us, and the guys came out and played with a lot of energy and focus. Securing the No. 2 seed is a great accomplishment, but we still have work to do.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Head Coach, Boston Celtics

“They're a tough team, and we just couldn't find a way to slow them down tonight. We'll learn from this and get ready for the playoffs.”

— Willie Green, Head Coach, New Orleans Pelicans

What’s next

The Celtics will finish the regular season with two more games before turning their attention to the playoffs. Their first-round opponent is still to be determined.

The takeaway

The Celtics' convincing win over the Pelicans solidifies their position as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. With home-court advantage secured for the first round, the Celtics will look to make a deep playoff run and potentially challenge for the NBA championship.