Brown and Tatum loaded the Pelicans basket with 72 points

The J’s duo cleaned up for the Celtics again as Jaylen Brown had 41 points, 12 rebounds and Jayson Tatum with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in Boston’s 125-114 win over the Pelicans. It was Brown’s fifth career 40 pointer and the tenth time the two had 70+ points in the same game.

Somehow the Celtics, who have climbed to 30-12 and have the best record in the entire NBA, are approaching the Nets, who are ranked 27-13, in high spirits.

CJ McCollum was the most productive player for New Orleans — still without Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson — with 38 points and more than 25 points for the fifth straight game.

THE DODECO LAPTS: 35-32, 64-58, 97-85, 125-114

CELTS: Tatum 31 (7/14 2-pointers, 3/8 3-pointers, 8/10 shots, 10 rebounds, 4 assists), Horford 14 (4), White 5 (1/4 3-pointers, 4 rebounds, 6 Assists, 2 steals), Brown 41 (12/15 2-pointers, 3/6 3-pointers, 8/9 shots, 12 rebounds), Hauser, Corne 2 (5 rebounds), Brogdon 20 (2)

pelicans: Valanciunas 13 (1), McCollum 38 (9/12 two-pointers, 6/12 three-pointers, 2/5 shots), Nance, Marshall 18 (2/5 3-points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) Hayes 8, Graham 2, Alvarado 9 (3 assists), Murphy 15 (6 rebounds, 3 steals), Daniels 7 (1/2 threes, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Lewis 2, Seabron 2