Pelicans (40-30), Celtics (47-23)
Anthony Davis was unstoppable for a second time this season vs. Boston. Cheick Diallo played perhaps the best game of his brief NBA career. As a result, in the midst of a hectic and critical stretch of the schedule for New Orleans, the Pelicans got exactly what they needed Sunday. Behind a dominant second half, New Orleans powered its way to what turned into a blowout victory over the undermanned Celtics, who had no answer for NOLA’s frontcourt.
New Orleans moved at least temporarily into a four-way tie for fifth place in the Western Conference, with the exact same record as Utah, San Antonio and Minnesota (the Timberwolves hosted Houston slightly later Sunday evening).