2024 NBA Champion Shines, but Celtics Still Searching for First Win vs. Pelicans
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown gave it everything he had on Sunday afternoon, but it still wasn’t enough to avoid a 119-113 road loss to the Detroit Pistons. Brown finished with 41 points, six rebounds, and four assists, leading a Celtics team that’s still searching for its first win of the season. He was efficient from the field, shooting 12-for-25 and connecting on five of nine three-pointers. Payton Pritchard was the only other Celtic to top 20 points, emphasizing just how heavily Boston leaned on Brown’s scoring throughout the game. Despite building an early 17-point lead, the Celtics once again struggled to close things out.
With the loss, Boston dropped to 0-3 for the first time since the 2013-14 season; the last time the team missed the playoffs. It also marks the first time the Celtics have lost three straight regular-season games since March 2023. Their collapse against Detroit came down to one glaring issue: rebounding. The Celtics were outrebounded 65–52 and surrendered eight second-chance points in the final three minutes, ultimately costing them the game. Although they started strong on offense, defensive lapses and poor execution in the paint allowed the Pistons to storm back in the second half.
Detroit’s balanced offense proved too much, with four of five starters scoring at least 21 points. Cade Cunningham led the charge with 25 points and eight rebounds, while the Pistons outworked Boston on both ends of the floor. Brown’s performance, while electric, couldn’t mask the Celtics’ lack of depth and defensive discipline. His hamstring, still recovering from a preseason strain, didn’t appear to slow him down; still, it remains something to monitor. Without Jayson Tatum in the lineup, Brown has shouldered a heavy offensive load, averaging 29.7 points through the first three games.
Heading into Monday night’s matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans, the Celtics will need to refocus on their fundamentals. Limiting turnovers, improving rebounding, and maintaining defensive consistency will be key if they want to secure their first victory. The Pelicans, led by Zion Williamson, are aggressive in the paint, which will test Boston’s interior defense and physicality. The Celtics must also find more scoring options beyond Brown and Pritchard to avoid overreliance on one player. A balanced attack and renewed intensity on defense could finally help the Celtics turn the tide and build much-needed momentum early in the season.
The Boston Celtics 0-3 will look to break a three-game losing skid when visiting the New Orleans Pelicans 0-2 on October 27, 2025, at Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans are currently small three-point favorites over the Celtics. Boston will look to find its rhythm on both ends of the floor and finally get into the win column. With Brown playing at an elite level and the team eager to turn things around, this matchup offers a crucial opportunity for the Celtics to regain confidence before a tough game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
