Zion Williamson missed a game for the first time this season, and the New Orleans Pelicans had the same result as their first two games — a loss.

But for the first time this season, they weren’t competitive.

Williamson was sidelined by a left foot bone contusion, and the Boston Celtics defeated the Pelicans 122-90 on Monday night in the Smoothie KingCenter.

Anfernee Simons scored 25 points to lead a barrage of 3-pointers by the Celtics (1-3), who beat New Orleans for the ninth straight time.

Payton Pritchard scored 18, Luka Garza had 16, Jaylen Brown and Josh Minott had 15 each, and Derrick White scored 11. Simons made 6 of 13 3-pointers, and the Celtics made 18 of 53, compared to 9 of 36 for the Pelicans.

Jordan Poole led the Pelicans with 22 points, rookie first-round draft choice D

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