Celtics Tied an NBA Record With 29 3-Pointers and Nobody in the East Can Stop Them Now

The Boston Celtics just put on a 3-point clinic that will go down in history. They tied the NBA record by draining 29 three-pointers in a single game, dismantling the New Orleans Pelicans 144-118 on Friday night at TD Garden. With that blowout win, Boston locked in the No. 2 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs. This wasn't even a close game. This was a statement.

A Night of Pure Shooting Madness

The Celtics came out firing and never let up. They took 59 three-pointers total, showing they weren't afraid to launch from anywhere on the court. That 29 made threes ties the record shared by the 2020 Milwaukee Bucks, the 2024 Celtics, and the 2026 Memphis Grizzlies. Boston was ice cold from deep in the first half alone, knocking down 17 of 30 from three-point range and shooting 61.7% overall. Five different Celtics made at least one three-pointer in the opening 12 minutes. By the end of the first quarter, Boston had already put up 10 threes and led 44-25. They stretched it to 82-46 by halftime.

Sam Hauser led the charge with 24 points, going 8 of 12 from three-point territory. Jaylen Brown added 23 points, while Payton Pritchard finished with 21 points and 10 assists. The Celtics broke 100 points with 7:09 left in the third quarter on a Brown layup that made it 101-61. Even when New Orleans tried to make a run in the fourth, cutting it to 26 points, Boston responded with an 11-0 run to seal it at 137-97.

Pelicans Playing Without Their Best Weapons

New Orleans came in completely decimated. Their injury report was brutal: Bryce McGowens (toe fracture), Yves Missi (finger), Trey Murphy III (ankle), Dejounte Murray (hand), Zion Williamson (knee), Saddiq Bey (rest), Herbert Jones (rest), and Karlo Matkovic (back). That's missing their top four scorers. Murphy (21.5 ppg), Williamson (21.0), Bey (17.7), and Murray (16.7) were all unavailable. Jeremiah Fears led the Pelicans with 36 points, while Derik Queen added 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Jordan Hawkins contributed 20. It wasn't enough against a Celtics squad that was playing their second game in as many nights without Jayson Tatum, who sat out for right Achilles repair management.

Boston finishes the regular season locked in at No. 2 in the East with a 55-26 record. The Celtics are ready for the playoffs.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.