BOSTON – Donatas Motiejunas played 20 minutes in his New Orleans debut Saturday, but it only took him about five to demonstrate why the Pelicans were eager to land the in-season free agent. Not long after stepping on the famed TD Garden hardwood, the left-handed Lithuania native sank a pull-up three-pointer on a fast break; dropped in a crafty turnaround hook shot; delivered an on-the-move, behind-the-back pass to an open shooter; and drew a pair of shooting fouls.
By game’s end, the skilled 7-foot center packed 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal into his abbreviated stints, which were shortened based on the fact that he hadn’t played in an NBA game since April 27.