Pelicans vs Celtics: NBA Betting Lines & Preview Game

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The NBA-best Boston Celtics have lost back-to-back games just once this season and look to avoid that on Monday when they host a very capable New Orleans Pelicans team. Boston is a solid favorite on the NBA odds. 2024 NBA Expert Analysis New Orleans vs Boston | MyBookie Sportsbook NBA Week 15

How to Bet Pelicans at Celtics NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Monday, 7:30 PM ET
Where: TD Garden
TV: NBA League Pass
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Celtics -2.5 (total TBA)

Series History

First meeting this season with the Celtics winning both last year by at least eight points each. The one in Boston was 125-114. Jaylen Brown had 41 points and 12 rebounds and Jayson Tatum 31 points and 10 boards. CJ McCollum had 38 points for New Orleans, which was without Zion Williamson. Boston is on a four-game overall winning streak in the series. Pelicans assistant coach Aaron Miles was an assistant coach for the Celtics during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

Why Bet on New Orleans Pelicans?

The Pelicans are on a two-game skid following a 141-117 loss in Milwaukee on Saturday. The Bucks outshot New Orleans, converting 51-of-91 (.560) from the floor and 20-of-45 (.444) from three-point range, while the Pelicans only shot 40-of-85 (.471) from the field and 9-of-23 (.391) from behind the arc. The Pelicans turned the ball over 15 times leading to 20 points for the Bucks, while Milwaukee only had nine miscues leading to nine points for New Orleans. The Bucks outscored the Pelicans 23-5 in fast break points and had 12 steals, while the Pelicans only posted five.

After Jae Crowder’s 3-pointer broke a 17-all tie with 5:07 left in the first quarter, the Bucks stayed ahead the rest of the way. “Give them credit,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “They dominated the game. It was really a lackluster performance on our part, and it starts with me. I’ve got to hold our guys more accountable. This is a tough back-to-back. We know it, flying up here. They had a back-to-back as well, probably some tired legs, but our fight has to be better. Those guys in the locker room, they know it.”

Zion Williamson returned from a one-game absence with 23 points in 29 minutes. Zion hasn’t attacked the glass or made defensive plays at reasonable rates for his position this season, with Saturday representing his eighth game across 37 appearances with three or fewer rebounds. Williamson connecting on all of his free-throw attempts is a silver lining, as a season-long 66.4 percent clip at the stripe is his worst efficiency since his rookie season.

Williamson has been making opponents pay under the basket, however. He ranks 2nd in the league in restricted zone field goals per game, averaging 6.9 on the season while shooting 68.3% near the basket. Additionally, Williamson is averaging 17.1 points in the paint this season, which ranked 2nd in the NBA. He is tied for 18th in the NBA in second chance points per game, averaging 3.0.

Brandon Ingram finished with 26 points and six boards. Entering Saturday, Ingram had averaged just 15.2 points and 43.7 percent shooting on an uncharacteristically low 12.3 shots across his last 11 contests. Ingram is 1-of-13 NBA players to average 21-plus points, five-plus assists and shoot 48.0% or better from the field this season.

CJ McCollum had an off night with just seven points. Still, he ranks first in the league in shooting 44 percent from deep among players who attempt a minimum of seven three-pointers per game. McCollum is 1-of-2 NBA players to average 19-plus points, 1.2-plus steals per game and shooting 44.0% or better from three-point range this season.

New Orleans is ranked 3rd in steals per game (8.1) and ranked 4th in the NBA in deflections per game (15.5). Addition, the Pels are ranked 5th in the NBA in isolation defensive PPP, averaging 0.88 points per possession, and are ranked 4th in the NBA in loose balls recovered per game with 6.0 per game. Lastly, New Orleans is ranked 12th in the NBA in total charges drawn with 23 on the season and are ranked 3rd in contested three-point shots, averaging 20.1 per game.

Why Bet on Boston Celtics?

Boston had a three-game winning streak snapped in a 115-96 home upset loss to the Clippers on Monday. Los Angeles used a 21-0 run in the third quarter to win its fifth straight and avenge a 37-point home loss to Boston in December. It was the most lopsided home loss of the season for Boston, which lost for just the second time at TD Garden home after starting the season 20-0 there. The Celtics were without Kristaps Porzingis due to an ankle injury. He’s questionable for Monday.

“Yeah, guys were pretty motivated,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “They came to LA and beat us pretty bad. So guys were locked in. We understand it was a back-to-back. But guys were locked in. They were up for the challenge. It was a game we thought (Paul George) might be out, but he wanted to play and see where we’re at. Just a measuring stick against a great team.”

Jayson Tatum shot 8-of-18 from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul line in the loss, finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Tatum was the lone starter to reach double figures, recording his 16th double-double of the season. He surpassed 11,000 career points in the game and became only the 5th Celtic in franchise history to record 11,000 points, 3,400 rebounds, and 500 steals, joining Paul Pierce, Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Antoine Walker. Tatum has recorded 15 double-digit rebound performances in 42 games this season for the third-most games in a single season in his career.

Jaylen Brown shot just 3-of-13 from the field to finish with eight points. Derrick White was 0-for-8 and had only two points. The Celtics were held to under 100 points for only the second time this season, which is tied with Atlanta, Oklahoma City, and the Clippers for the fewest number of games in the NBA this year.

With a win over Houston on Jan. 21, the Celtics improved to 9 -1 after a loss this season and have not lost back-to-back games since Nov. 6-8 (Minnesota, Philadelphia). NBA in total three-pointers made (743), rebounds per game (47.5), and blocks per game (6.5).

The Celtics own the second-most 20-point wins in the NBA this season with nine games, trailing New Orleans with 10. The Celtics rank first in the NBA in total three-pointers made (743), rebounds per game (47.5), and blocks per game (6.5).

Pelicans vs Celtics Expert Prediction

Celtics 118, Pelicans 111

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