Celtics 108, Pelicans 100
Jared Sullinger scored a season-high 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead host Boston to a win over New Orleans.
Jae Crowder finished with a career-high 22 points and a career high-tying four steals for the Celtics, who had lost nine of their previous 11 games. Marcus Thornton scored 13 points off the bench and Brandon Bass added 12 in a reserve role for Boston.
Anthony Davis led the way for the Pelicans with 34 points and nine boards. Eric Gordon added a season-high 21 points and Tyreke Evans chipped in 19 as New Orleans fell to 0-7 on the road against Eastern Conference teams.
The Pelicans scored the final four points of the first quarter to create a 22-22 tie and the Celtics had the final four points of the second to make it 49-all entering halftime. Gordon's 3-pointer highlighted a 10-0 run for the Pelicans early in the third quarter and they carried a 76-72 advantage into the fourth.
Sullinger scored eight straight points for Boston, including a game-tying 3-pointer with six minutes left, and Crowder's triple moments later put the hosts up 94-90. Marcus Smart scored on a runner and later added a 3-pointer to restore the four-point advantage before Sullinger sealed it with four free throws in the final 23 seconds.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The NBA on Monday approved the three-team, five-player trade that sent Celtics leading scorer F Jeff Green to Memphis and Pelicans G Austin Rivers to Boston. Reports suggest that Boston will make Rivers immediately available for a trade. ... Pelicans G Jrue Holiday left after a half of play with right ankle inflammation. ... The teams combined to go 58-for-68 from the line.