The Boston Celtics beat the New Orleans Pelicans 104–92 on Saturday, coming back from two straight losses to Atlanta thanks to 23 points from Jayson Tatum. The Celtics pulled away in the third quarter to win the game.

 The Boston Celtics beat the New Orleans Pelicans 104–92 on Saturday, coming back from two straight losses to Atlanta thanks to 23 points from Jayson Tatum. The Celtics pulled away in the third quarter to win the game.

With 58-16, the Celtics have the best record in the NBA. Kristaps Porzingis scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Jaylen Brown scored 17. Without the win, the Celtics would have lost their first three games in a row this season.

Jrue Holiday scored 13 points, had seven assists, and grabbed eight rebounds. Derrick White scored 15 points.

That night, Zion Williamson scored 25 points and CJ McCollum scored 24.

Boston took charge in the third quarter and held New Orleans to 11 points. They were ahead 59–57 at break. Tatum’s 3-pointer with 4:12 left in the quarter put the Celtics ahead 79–68. They led by at least 10 points the rest of the way, getting up by 22 points in the fourth quarter.

In the third quarter, the Pelicans only made 4 out of 23 shots, and Williamson missed all five of his shots. The last time New Orleans scored was when Trey Murphy made a 3-pointer with 4:37 left. They went 0 for 6 and turned the ball over three times.

In the first half, Williamson and Herb Jones both scored 14 points. New Orleans was ahead by 11 points after Williamson’s steal and dunk started a 9-0 run.

At the end of the first quarter, McCollum’s moving layup made it 34–23. But Boston came back in the second quarter and tied it at 44 with White’s tip-in of Brown’s miss.

White hit a deep three-pointer with seconds left in the first half to give the Celtics their first lead.

Brandon Ingram missed the Pelicans’ fifth straight game because of a bone bruise in his left knee. The Saints were looking to get 18 wins over.500 for the first time since April 12, 2009, when they were 49–31.