The Boston Celtics will head home happy.
The Celtics got off to a slow start Monday in the final stop on their five-game road trip, but a 15-2 run in the third quarter helped them cruise to a 111-93 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
Isaiah Thomas led all scorers with 22 points, Kelly Olynyk added 21 and Jared Sullinger posted a monster double-double with 11 points and 20 rebounds. Boston’s defense did an excellent job on Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis, holding him to just 16 points on 8 for 21 shooting.
The Celtics went 3-2 on their road swing and now sit at 12-9 at the quarter mark of their 2015-16 campaign.
STARTING FIVE
Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Amir Johnson, Jared Sullinger
BEATING THE ‘BROW
One would think the best way to beat Anthony Davis is to get him off the court. But the exact opposite was true Monday night.
The Celtics drew two quick fouls on the Pelicans big man to send him to the bench less than six minutes into the game. Boston couldn’t capitalize, however, as New Orleans actually outscored the C’s with Davis sidelined and had opened a five-point lead by the time Davis returned early in the second quarter.
Ironically, the Celtics heated up with Davis back on the floor, as the two-time All-Star finished with a brutal minus-24 plus-minus rating.
THE IT FACTOR
Thomas put the Celtics on his back to help put the team in front entering halftime.
The 5-foot-9 point guard was money in the first half, connecting on 8 of 9 shots for 19 points. He turned on the jets down the stretch, pouring in 12 points in the final five minutes of the second quarter as Boston went on a 13-2 run to close out the half.
Thomas finished 9 for 13 from the field and killed the Pelicans all night. He knew it, too.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Boston erupted on a 15-2 run in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
The Celtics caught fire from 3-point range and got plenty of open looks thanks to pushing the tempo in transition and getting excellent ball movement in halfcourt sets:
YOUNG BLOOD
James Young finally saw some action Monday night, and he made the most of it.
With rookie R.J. Hunter out due to a hip injury, the second-year swingman played 20 minutes after earning a total of nine minutes in the season to date. Young had a solid game on both ends of the floor, highlighted by this nice finish on a fast break:
PLAY OF THE NIGHT
Kelly Olynyk found Tyler Zeller with a nifty pass for a dunk in the first quarter:
UP NEXT
A long-awaited trip home. The Celtics return to the friendly confines of TD Garden on Wednesday to take on the 11-7 Chicago Bulls. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports Images
