4 Instant Observations from the Celtics' first win of the season vs. Pelicans

It finally happened. The Boston Celtics claimed their first victory of the season with a 122-90 beatdown of the New Orleans Pelicans. Here’s what stood out.

The Fourth Quarter was therapeutic.

After three games of pain, Celtics fans finally got something to be excited about in this fourth quarter. Monday’s game was looking like it could end the same way as the three prior, until the Cs went ballistic and buried the Pelicans.

New Orleans had cut Boston’s lead to just five when the Cs responded with an emphatic 20-2 run. It was like they were taking an entire week of frustration out on the hosts in the Big Easy.

Josh Minott Continues to be Awesome

After an impressive late-game stint against the Pistons on Sunday, Josh Minott earned himself the fifth and final spot in Joe Mazzulla’s starting lineup on Monday. Well, the 22-year-old made the most of his first-career NBA start.

He set the tone for an energetic performance, literally on the first play of the game, when he skied for an alley-oop dunk.

Minott’s energy is the easiest thing to notice when watching him play. It’s been evident since the first preseason game. It’s not all that surprising that the Cs fared so well on the glass with him playing a season-high in minutes. He ripped down nine of the team’s 66 boards while tying his career-high in points with 13.

Hopefully, this isn’t the last extended run we see from the first-year Celtic.

Anfernee Simons has Arrived

Anfernee Simons looked like he was headed towards another lackluster performance through the first three quarters of this game. He struggled to make an impact offensively and looked lost on defense at times.

That all changed in the fourth. Simons caught fire and drilled three straight threes en route to a 12-point outburst in the final frame to help Boston break the game wide open.

This was his first big moment as a Celtic, after joining the team as part of the Jrue Holiday trade this summer. Hopefully, it’s the first of at least a few. Fans in Boston hadn’t gotten to see his offensive abilities on full display before tonight.

 Rebounding Remains Important

One of the biggest stories from Sunday’s loss in Detroit was Boston’s struggles on the defensive glass. They allowed the Pistons to score 30 second-chance points on 18 offensive rebounds en route to their third straight loss to start the season.

Thankfully, the Celtics finally got it together on the glass against New Orleans. Not only did they get it together, but they dominated, outrebounding the Pelicans 66-46.

Neemias Queta did a great job on the glass, too. It’d be unfair to write this section without a nod to the Portuguese big man’s effort in New Orleans. Despite not scoring the ball well, he still played with a high motor and ripped down 11 boards, seven of which were offensive.