Brown scores season-high 41 points, Celtics beat Pelicans

Published Jan. 11, 2023 9:59 p.m. ET

Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored a season-high 41 points and had 12 rebounds and the Boston Celtics won their fourth straight game, holding off the New Orleans Pelicans 125-114 on Wednesday night.

Jayson Tatum added 31 points and 10 rebounds, Malcolm Brogdon scored 20 points, and Al Horford had 14, making four 3-pointers. The Celtics have won their last five home games.

CJ McCollum had 38 points for New Orleans, his fifth consecutive game with at least 25 points.

He kept the Pelicans in the game throughout, going 6 of 12 from the 3-point line. They played without Zion Williamson for the fifth consecutive game as he continues to deal with a strained right hamstring.

Naji Marshall added 18 points and Trey Murphy III had 15 for New Orleans, The Pelicans have lost three of four.

The Celtics took a six-point lead into halftime and increased it to 104-89 with just under 10 minutes to play.

New Orleans got to 107-97 with 7:32 left. But Boston responded with a 11-3 run to get it back to 118-100.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: The Pelicans are 6-4 in games both Williamson and Ingram have missed. … Dropped to 8-12 on the road. … Went 9 of 15 overall from the 3-point line in the first half. … Jose Alvarado was called for a taunting technical foul with four minutes left in the third quarter after pointing at Luke Kornet after Alvarado drove past him and scored on a layup.

Celtics: Brown had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the first half. … Red Sox star Rafael Devers, who recently signed a 10-year, $331 million contract to remain in Boston, sat courtside. New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty also was in attendance.

UP NEXT

Pelicans: At Detroit on Friday night.

Celtics: At Brooklyn on Thursday night.

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