Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon Sport
Boston Celtics vs New Orleans Pelicans: Can the Celtics bounce back tonight?
The Boston Celtics are visiting the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on Saturday.
The Celtics have lost the last two games
The Boston Celtics are on top of the Eastern Conference with a league-best 57-16 record. They have lost the last two games and are coming off a 123-122 overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics are the best three-point shooting team in the league, making 39% of a league-high 42.5 three-point attempts per game. They are also second in the league, averaging 121.1 points per game. Jayson Tatum leads the team with 27.3 points per game.
The Pelicans are on the pace to make it straight to the playoffs
The New Orleans Pelicans are fifth in the Western Conference with a 45-28 record. They have won three of the last four games and are coming off a 107-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pelicans are seventh in the league, shooting 37.8% from three-point territory, and 13th, scoring 115.6 points per game. Zion Williamson leads the team with 22.8 points per game.
Betting Trends
Boston has won the last five games against New Orleans. They are 9-2 SU in the last 11 games overall and 10-0 SU in the last 10 games against teams from the Southeast Division. The Pelicans are 10-3 SU in the last 13 games overall, 8-2 SU in the last 10 games against teams from the Eastern Conference and 5-0 SU in the last five games against teams from the Atlantic Division.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Celtics are by far the best team in the league this season. However, they are coming off back-to-back losses, which happened only for the third time this season. The top seed in the East is not in jeopardy, but the Celtics will give their best to get back on the winning track. The Pelicans are pretty solid at home this season with a 21-14 record, but with Brandon Ingram out, they will have slim chances to win tonight. Boston is not going to lose three straight games this late in the season and will get a comfortable win tonight.
