BOSTON — Jared Sullinger had 27 points and 10 rebounds, Marcus Smart made a key 3-pointer in the closing minute, and the Boston Celtics beat the New Orleans Pelicans 108-100 on Monday night.

Jae Crowder added 22 points, Marcus Thornton had 13 and Brandon Bass 12 to help the Celtics get their third win in 12 games.

Anthony Davis led the Pelicans with 34 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Eric Gordon scored 21 points and Tyreke Evans 19 with eight boards.

Clinging to a 101-100 lead, Avery Bradley’s shot was blocked by Davis in the lane, before Smart made a fadeaway 3 from the left corner, falling into the seats as the shot swished through the basket with 39.7 seconds left.

Sullinger then hit four free throws to seal it.

Smart finished with only seven points, but had six assists.

Boston extended its lead to 101-96 on Bradley’s driving bank shot with 1:41 to play, but the Pelicans scored the next four points, cutting it to one on Ryan Anderson’s two free throws with just under a minute left.

The Celtics then scored the game’s final seven points.

Boston had used a 12-6 run midway into the final quarter to turn a six point deficit into a 94-90 lead when Crowder banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 4:56 to play.

After the Celtics took the lead, the Pelicans missed their next five shots, getting at least two blocked near the basket.

Sullinger’s 3 from the top had tied it 90-all with 6:11 to play.

Trailing 55-54, New Orleans had used a 10-0 spurt early in the third quarter, pulling to 61-55 on Omer Asik’s two free throws. The Pelicans held the lead for the rest of the quarter, going ahead 76-72 heading to the fourth.

The teams were tied at 22 after one quarter and 49 at halftime.