Twenty-nine three-pointers in one game. Let that number sink in for a second.
The Boston Celtics matched the NBA single-game record with 29 made three-pointers in their 144-118 demolition of the New Orleans Pelicans, simultaneously clinching the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
This isn't just about one hot shooting night. This is about a team that has fundamentally changed how basketball is played, and they're getting hot at exactly the right time - right before the playoffs.
Eight different Celtics players made at least two threes. Sam Hauser led the barrage with 24 points and 8 made triples. Even backup center Neemias Queta got in on the action, draining his first career three-pointer to go along with 10 rebounds.
The crowd at TD Garden was going absolutely wild as Boston approached history. With 1:20 remaining, Hugo Gonzalez tied the record with the 29th three-pointer, and the entire arena was chanting for one more.
They couldn't get it. Luka Garza opted for a dunk instead of a three, and Baylor Scheierman missed his attempt from the wing. But you know what? Nobody in that building was complaining.
This tied the record held by the Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks, and it equaled Boston's own franchise mark set earlier this season against the Knicks. They're not just chasing records - they're setting them regularly.
But let's talk about what really matters: that No. 2 seed. The Celtics (55-26) hit 50 wins despite losing key players Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford for significant stretches. Jayson Tatum missed all but 16 games this season.
They overcame all of it by playing a style of basketball that's nearly impossible to defend. You can't pack the paint when they've got eight guys who can hit from deep. You can't switch everything when they're moving the ball this well. You can't even try to out-shoot them because nobody shoots like this.
