Anfernee Simons produced his most impactful outing since arriving in Boston, scoring 25 points with six three-pointers off the bench in the Celtics’ 132-90 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, October 28.
The 26-year-old guard, acquired from Portland during the offseason, logged 32 minutes and described the transition to a reduced scoring role as “fun,” emphasizing the chance to “improve on things I need to improve on to help the team win.” Head coach Joe Mazzulla credited Simons’ adaptability, saying, “It’s on me to make sure that he feels comfortable. It’s on his teammates to get the best version of him.”
Minott earns first NBA start
Second-year forward Josh Minott moved into the starting lineup for the first time and responded with 15 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes. Boston outscored New Orleans by 42 while he was on the floor. “The opportunity to be out there and contribute to winning…I can’t take that for granted,” Minott said after the game.
Brown plays through hamstring strain
Jaylen Brown, managing a strained left hamstring, appeared in the second night of a back-to-back and delivered 15 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes. Brown noted past hamstring issues have helped him remain effective without “too much explosiveness or too much athleticism,” adding that he intended to keep playing until Boston “figured that part out” and returned to the win column.
Gonzalez sits as matchups dictate rotations
Mazzulla continued to juggle personnel, leaving rookie forward Hugo Gonzalez inactive after starting him Sunday in Detroit. “We have a lot of depth,” the coach explained, citing matchup considerations. He praised Gonzalez’s performance in his previous 18-minute stint, calling it “a testament to where he came from.”
The victory moved Boston to 3-2 as the Celtics adjust to nightly lineup changes designed to maximize their versatile roster.
Source: Hoops Rumors
