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Celtics tie their own NBA record vs. Pelicans
Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Celtics tie their own NBA record vs. Pelicans

Two teams in NBA history had ever made 29 three-pointers in a game before this week. Friday night, the Boston Celtics became the second team in five nights to tie the single-game record for threes.

Sam Hauser led the way with eight threes, and Payton Pritchard sank five of his own in the Celtics' 144-118 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Boston had a chance to break the record, tied by the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, but they dribbled out the clock at the buzzer.

Boston Celtics are lighting it up from deep

Though they're not putting up shots at the same rate as last season, when they led the NBA with 48.2 attempts per game, the Celtics are still third in the NBA in total three-pointers. Friday, they shot 29-for-59, in a game they led by 19 points after one quarter and by 31 at halftime, shooting 17-for-30 before the break.

Four different Celtics had three triples in the first half. The most significant effort may have come from deadline pickup Nikola Vucevic, who was shooting 31.3 percent from distance before Friday but made all three of his first-half attempts (he finished 3-of-5). The pace slowed down as the starters rested with a big lead, but Hauser shot 5-of-7 in the second half.

One sign that it was a magical night came when center Neemias Queta made a three-pointer for the first time in his five-year NBA career, delighting the home fans.

Three-point record marks show chaos of late season

While the Celtics' performance was impressive, it's also an example of how non-competitive this NBA season has become down the stretch. The 26-55 Pelicans are wrapping up a disappointing season, while the Grizzlies' 29-three-pointer game came with a roster of G Leaguers getting hot, and also shooting 29-for-59.

However, chasing a record does provide a level of interest that's been otherwise lacking as this season winds down. That was probably a secondary concern for the Celtics, who clinched the two seed in the Eastern Conference with the win and a meeting with the winner of the 7-8 play-in game.

But in a month where many teams aren't even trying, the NBA has to love seeing a team going for it. And the Celtics have to love seeing their shooting peaking just before the playoffs begin.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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