The Celtics are championship hopefuls. All the Pelicans are contending for is the No. 1 draft pick. You wouldn’t know it by watching either of their two meetings this season, both of which were decided in the final seconds.

Tatum finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds and Jaylen Brown scored 28 points for the Celtics, who forced 20 New Orleans turnovers. Trey Murphy erupted for 40 points for the Pelicans, who were without without Zion Williamson (illness), Brandon Ingram (ankle), Herbert Jones (shoulder), Daniel Theis (thumb), and Jordan Hawkins (illness).

With less than a second left in a tie game, Tatum hit a contested, game-winning fadeaway jump shot to give the Celtics a dramatic 118-116 win on the road. Tatum finished the game with 27 points on 10-of-21 shooting with 10 assists and six rebounds.

After Pelicans veteran guard CJ McCollum drained a clutch floater with just 24 seconds remaining to tie it, Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum took matters into his own hands, drillin

Tatum had 22 points through three quarters before being held in check for much of the fourth. But the Celtics went to him after CJ McCollum’s tying basket with 24 seconds left, and he hit the eventual winner over McCollum from the left wing.