Celtics hit their stride as NBA regular season fades, one shot from record

The NBA regular season is closing out with two packed nights – Friday and Sunday – when every team takes the floor. In a perfect world, it would be a whirlwind of drama with everything still on the line. But that is not the reality. After 80 games apiece, most of the major questions have already been answered, with only a handful of spots undecided – and almost none of them the kind that swing seasons.

Instead, the final stretch has become a mix of rest management, draft-position calculations tied to the much-discussed tanking trend, and a broader look ahead to what follows Sunday. For some teams, that means rebuilding; for others, the play-in; and for the twelve already locked into postseason berths, the playoffs begin next weekend.

Against that backdrop, the Celtics’ 144–118 demolition of the Pelicans was exactly what it looked like: a rout. The lead ballooned to 40 before halfway through the third quarter, and the game was effectively over by the end of the first (44–25). The win secured second place in the Eastern Conference for a Boston team that, remarkably given how the season has unfolded, many did not even expect to crack the top four.

Now sitting at 55–26 – just six wins shy of last season’s total with one game still to play – and after reshaping much of their roster, the Celtics look like a genuine Finals contender, perhaps even the favorite alongside the Pistons. They also wrapped up the Atlantic Division for a fifth straight year, matching their best run and extending their historical edge in that category.

Pelicans drift through another lost season

The Pelicans, meanwhile, have spent yet another year in limbo – present without truly being part of anything. Without their first-round pick and with no realistic path to even the middle tier of the standings after a 3–22 start, they have operated on the margins all season.

In Boston, they were missing Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy and Saddiq Bey. The patchwork lineup was overrun, though there were glimpses of future promise. Rookie Derik Queen finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks, while Jeremiah Fears added 36 points and six assists.

Curiously, Jordan Poole and Kevon Looney started – players who, just over four years ago, won a title on this same floor with the Warriors in significant roles, particularly the center. Their presence now feels like part of a misaligned timeline for a franchise still searching for direction.

The Zion era – if it can even be called that – has now stretched seven years without the forward appearing in a single playoff game, his absences in 2022 and 2024 emblematic of a project that never fully materialized.

Celtics close in on three-point record

Boston heads into the final days in high spirits and will likely rotate heavily again against the Magic, who are still fighting for position and could soon return to TD Garden in the play-in. Only Jayson Tatum sat out for rest after playing the previous night, while Jaylen Brown returned and the rest of the rotation saw minutes in a game that was already decided by halftime (82–51).

Brown scored 12 points in the opening quarter and finished with 23 without playing the final 12 minutes, as the game took on the feel of a practice run. Sam Hauser led with 24 points, hitting 8-of-12 from deep, while Payton Pritchard added 21 on 5-of-9 shooting from three.

The defining storyline, however, was Boston’s shooting: 29-of-59 from beyond the arc, just one shy of the NBA’s all-time single-game record. They matched their own mark from the opening game of the 2024–25 season, shared with the Grizzlies and Bucks. The Celtics made 20 more threes than the Pelicans – a staggering 60-point differential from long range alone.

Eight players hit at least two triples, and Neemias Queta finally connected on his first as an NBA player after missing his first ten attempts. Late in the game, the chase for history added a touch of intrigue – but the record ultimately slipped away.

Hugo González makes his case ahead of playoffs

Hugo González took full advantage of extended minutes on a night built for rotation. The rookie logged 25 minutes, contributing 10 points, four rebounds and three steals while shooting 4-of-7 overall and 2-of-4 from deep. Active on both ends, he showed he can be ready if called upon in the postseason, even if his role there is likely to be limited.

Still, his first NBA season has already been a success – proof that he belongs, and perhaps more than that. This was his third appearance in April and his first game with 25 minutes since March 13, marking another step in a steady development curve.

In what remains – which could be significant for a team with championship ambitions – his minutes may be scarce. But the playoffs have a way of creating unexpected opportunities, especially in an Eastern Conference where defensive specialists are often needed against elite guards like Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.

González has already shown he can handle that assignment without hesitation. In a few days, he will take his next step: his first NBA playoffs.

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