What an exciting night for the NBA today! The reigning champions almost lost to the worst-placed team in the league. And the Cavs’ winning streak was snapped as well. The Celtics were in a tight spot late against the lowly New Orleans Pelicans at TD Garden, trailing by a slim margin in the final minutes. It was a real nail-biter, and Boston needed a crucial stop to escape with a 120-119 victory.

The winningest team in the NBA is expected to perform at the highest level, especially this season. After their NBA title, they’re under the spotlight, with hopes of becoming the champions once again this year. But let’s be real: things haven’t been as smooth as expected.

The Celtics are 7-6 over their last 13 games and even wins haven’t spared them from criticism. This is the price of success—when you’re on top, the expectations are non-stop. Inconvenience is at its peak. And for Boston, they know that better than anyone.

Joe Mazzulla is taking it all in his stride. “We’re 28-11, and these are the types of conversations that we’re having. So, it’s a beautiful place to be in,” he said after the game, via NBC Sports Boston. Sure, it hasn’t been smooth sailing lately, but he sees the challenges as a compliment to the team’s success. “It’s a great standard and a great expectation to have and we have to deliver,” he added.

Mazzulla also pointed out that despite the rough stretch, the Celtics still boast the third-best record in the league—something many teams would happily trade for.

The 36-year-old head coach knows the C’s are on their own journey. “We’re on our own path that we have to be able to work through.” It’s not as simple as picking up where they left off; every year brings new challenges and new chemistry.

But Joe Mazzulla remains undiscouraged. He knows it’s all about staying hungry. “I think sometimes, when you have the same team, we have this expectation that we’re just going to pick up there. And it’s different. Different year, people, and different spaces. And so, we have to reestablish that, you have to work that, and it just takes time. So, this is the space that we’re in.”

“I love the fact that we’re not happy. It’s the best place to be in, and we’ll figure it the hell out,” he said. The message is clear: this team knows what it’s capable of, and even when things aren’t perfect, they’re determined to get there.

Jayson Tatum saves the Boston Celtics from embarrassment

Tatum was easily the standout player for the Celtics in their win against the Pelicans. With a game-high 38 points, 14-for-30 shooting, and 11 rebounds, he carried the team offensively. The second half was his time to shine, putting up 21 points. Sure, his 3-point shooting wasn’t great (2-for-10), but he did enough to keep Boston in the game. He’s that guy when the Celtics need a bucket.

Trey Murphy III really caught attention, especially among Celtics fans. The Pelicans’ sharpshooter went off for 30 points, shooting 10-for-17, plus grabbing six rebounds and handing out four assists. His five-made threes were huge, helping New Orleans stay competitive. The guy clearly has range, and he was a big reason why the Pelicans knocked down 17 threes, shooting nearly 46%.

Kristaps Porzingis is getting back to his dominant self. He added 19 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks, showing why Boston once picked him up in the offseason and continues to back him. He made a difference at both ends of the floor.As for some of the Celtics struggles, Derrick White’s shooting woes continued. With just six points on 1-for-6 shooting, including 0-for-5 from beyond the arc, White’s production has dipped significantly. Jrue Holiday also wasn’t much of a factor, though he had an acrobatic layup late. And Sam Hauser? Well, he’s struggling too. 3 points in 9 minutes, just one 3-pointer.

Let’s hope the Celtics can fix these issues soon.