Tatum scores career-high 41, Celtics dump Pelicans

BOSTON — Celtics coach Brad Stevens said giving his team a day off following its worst losing streak of the season felt like the right thing to do.

It certainly re-energized Jayson Tatum.

The third-year forward made six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 41 points as Boston cruised past the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans, 140-105 on Saturday night.

Tatum’s first career 40-point performance helped the Celtics snap a season-high, three-game skid.

“Shots were going in. It felt good. I felt like we played with a purpose today on both ends, from the beginning of the game,” Tatum said. “I felt like we did our job. I know we haven’t been playing well lately. It felt good to start the game off right.”

Enes Kanter added 22 points and 19 rebounds, marking season highs in both categories. Gordon Hayward had 19 points and Kemba Walker finished with 17 points and seven assists.

Boston shot 14 of 29 from the 3-point line and tied a season high for points.

Frank Jackson scored 22 points for the Pelicans. Jaxson Hayes added 20.

“We just never got any traction offensively or defensively, really,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. “They took us out of just about everything we tried to do.”

New Orleans played without Derrick Favors because a right hamstring strain, Jrue Holiday sat his fourth straight game with a left elbow contusion, Kenrich Williams missed his third consecutive game with back soreness and J.J. Redick sat with a left hamstring strain.

Hayes and E’Twaun Moore started in place of Williams and Favors.

The Celtics exploited the absences early. Tatum was active from a variety of spots on the floor, connecting on eight of his first nine shots. He scored 22 points in the the first half to help the Celtics build as much as a 22-point lead.

Tatum reached 37 points in the third quarter, but badly missed back-to-back 3-point attempts. During a break in the action, Stevens called him over to the bench for a quick conversation.

Tatum said Stevens told him just to relax and that he’d get to 40.

“I think everybody could tell I wanted to get it,” Tatum said. “So ‘just take a deep breath for a second and go back out there.’”

A few trips and a pair of finger roll finishes at the rim put over the magic number.

Tatum said he’ll take his night in stride like he’s tried to do each of the last three seasons.

“I never get too high or too low when I play well or if I don’t,” he said. “For me, I feel like I got a long way to go. And the guys I look up to, they have nights like this more often than not. … I’m just gonna try to do it more often, be consistent and continue to get better.”

TIP-INS

Pelicans: Were outscored 74-42 in the paint. … Shot 35 percent (9 of 26) with five turnovers in the first quarter.

Celtics: Tatum reached double figures for the 28th consecutive game, extending a career high. It was his fifth career game with at least 30 points. … Set a new season high for points in a quarter with 41 in the first period. It surpassed the 39 points they scored in the first quarter of their Nov. 9 win over Spurs. The 72 first-half points tied a season high.

MILESTONE WATCH

Kanter becomes the first Celtics reserve to record 22 or more points and 19 or more rebounds in a single game since Larry Bird (March 16, 1982).

MAKING PROGRESS

Pelicans rookie forward Zion Williamson was again on the floor for some pregame work, this time participating in some light 3-on-3 with teammates.

Gentry says the No. 1 overall pick continues to make progress.

“The problem we’ve had is that we haven’t had an opportunity to practice,” Gentry said. “He does some development workouts and things like that. … There will come a time when we stick him out to play but we don’t have an exact date.”

UP NEXT

Pelicans: Conclude three-game road trip at Detroit on Monday.

Celtics: Host the Bulls on Monday.

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TAGS: Boston Celtics, Brandon Ingram, Enes Kanter, Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, NBA, New Orleans Pelicans