The New Orleans Pelicans [lost 122-90 to the Boston Celtics Monday night](https://www.nola.com/tncms/asset/editorial/b51c612e-be18-485a-a0aa-69b3f9d433fa/) at the Smoothie King Center. With the loss, the Pelicans remain winless heading into their 3-game road trip. Here are five things we learned after this latest loss.
**A step back**
The Pelicans, even in their two losses to start the season, seemed to be heading in the right direction. They were competing until the end and they were fun to watch. Then Monday happened. The day started with [Zion Williamson being ruled out of the game](https://www.nola.com/tncms/asset/editorial/26696416-f11a-42cd-9b14-ac90b6366083/) with a bone contusion in his foot. The Pelicans then went out and lost by 32 to a Celtics team that is nothing like the team that won the NBA title two seasons ago. This is a Boston team the Pelicans should have been able to beat even without Williamson. They weren’t.
“They just took the fight to us,” said Pelicans’ coach Willie Green. They were a tougher team. Mentally tougher than we were. We have to get back to the drawing board.”
This one was deflating, eerily similar to so many of the losses last season.
**Growing pain for Fears**
Jeremiah Fears played great in his first two games coming off the bench. He got his first start Monday and things didn’t go as well. Fears shot 1 of 11 from the floor (0-for-4 on 3’s). He also had four turnovers and just 2 assists in the 26 minutes he played. It was just the third NBA game for the 19-year old, so no need to panic about it. But it was a reminder than he will have his ups and downs throughout his rookie season.
**DJ a plus**
DeAndre Jordan saw his first action after bring signed by the Pelicans on Friday. He made an immediate impact, scoring and getting fouled on a thunderous dunk just 14 seconds after checking into the game to start the second quarter. Jordan finished with seven points and grabbed five rebounds and gave the team a spark. Expect those minutes to increase and for him to play a bigger role as the season goes on.
**Shooting woes continue**
The Pelicans continue to struggle on 3-pointers. They made just 9 of 36 in Monday’s loss. Trey Murphy and Fears both missed all four of their 3-point attempts. Murphy is supposed to be the team’s best shooter, but he’s gotten off to a slow start. For the season, he’s made just 4-of-18 3-pointers. He’ll have to shoot better than that for the Pelicans to have any chance of being successful this season. Especially on nights when Williamson isn’t playing.
**In a funk**
The Pelicans have now lost 10 straight games dating back to last season. Snapping that streak will be difficult on this upcoming road trip when they play two of the past three NBA champions. The Pels play the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, then follow that up against the Los Angeles Clippers Friday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Pels’ woes against the Celtics continued, too. This was their ninth straight loss to Boston. Their last win against Boston came in March 2021. They get another chance this season in April.