Celtics vs. Pelicans Odds & Picks: Bayou Bounce Back
Sports betting has officially arrived in Louisiana!
Six sportsbooks in Louisiana launched on Friday, taking online wagers all across the Bayou State. To celebrate, we took a deep dive on last night's Pelicans-Nuggets game. We correctly predicted the over of 215 points and backed the Pelicans +6 provided they returned at least three of the four starters that missed Tuesday's game at Philadelphia. Unfortunately, both Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas couldn't play on Friday night, leading to a 116-105 cover by the Nuggets.
New Orleans now must recover quickly, as they host the Boston Celtics tonight at the Smoothie King Center. The Celtics also need to bounce back after a 108-92 Friday night loss at Atlanta.
Will the Pelicans field a full starting lineup, and find a win against the Celtics? Or will Boston take advantage of a shorthanded New Orleans team that continues to battle major roster uncertainty? Let's take a close look at where bettors should trust their money tonight on a compact, six-game NBA Saturday slate.
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Celtics vs. Pelicans Betting Odds
| Celtics | Pelicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -4.5 | +4.5 |
| Moneyline | -196 | +164 |
| Over/Under | 211.5 (-110) |
*Lines accurate at time of publication.
Celtics vs. Pelicans Best Bets
Pelicans +4.5 vs. Celtics (-110, DK)
Playing without Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas is a daunting task for New Orleans in any matchup, especially against the reigning MVP in Nikola Jokic. I'm projecting head coach Willie Green rested both players as a result of the back-to-back schedule and will have both in uniform for a more winnable game against Boston. The Pelicans only played the Celtics once this season, a 104-92 loss at Boston on January 17th. In that game, New Orleans struggled to find offensive efficiency, shooting just 41.4% from the field and 61.1% from the free-throw line.
Boston has struggled to gain momentum, alternating two wins and two losses over the prior six games prior to the loss to Atlanta. The Celtics continue to play their stars big minutes, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both averaging over 34 minutes per game. However, their bench simply isn't producing. In last night's loss, the Boston bench contributed just 17 points. If New Orleans has their full roster, they can take advantage of a shortened Celtics roster.
New Orleans' bench has thoroughly enjoyed the revival of shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who has posted 14+ points in three consecutive games, including 31 points at Philadelphia on Tuesday. They also have quality depth at center, with both Willy Hernangomez (18 points, 16 rebounds) and Jaxson Hayes (13 points) posting solid stat lines against Jokic.
New Orleans has experienced a frustrating season, expecting to be a legitimate playoff contender after just missing the final playoff spot last season. However, the loss of Zion Williamson, combined with losing multiple players to injuries and COVID-19 protocols has challenged first-year head coach Willie Green. New Orleans started the season with a 1-12 record but wants to make a late-season playoff push.
I truly believe Valanciunas and Ingram both play, but I'll back New Orleans even if just Valanciunas is available. New Orleans entered last night as one of the NBA's best home teams, and still currently sits at 13-9-1.
This line opened at Boston -4.5 and still holds at that number. I recommend taking it now in a game New Orleans can cover with or without Ingram. They have an excellent chance to win outright if Ingram is finally available, though.
Risk: 1.10 units on DraftKings to win 1 unit. (Bet up to -120)
Celtics vs. Pelicans Game Total Over 211.5 Points (-110, DK)
The Pelicans are only fifth in points per game over the past two weeks, but that is a direct result of their fluid roster. The Celtics have started to post consistent offensive numbers, with four consecutive games of 102+ points prior to last night's loss.
If New Orleans is fully healthy, they will post a big number on the Celtics. With Valanciunas, Ingram, Graham and Hart, the Pelicans have a quartet of versatile inside/outside scorers. The two surprises have been Alexander-Walker and the tremendous play of rookie Herbert Jones, who has posted double-digit points in 13 of his last 15 games.
Boston has the best defensive rating in the NBA the past two weeks, but has still allowed a healthy 108.7 points per game. New Orleans has the eighth-worst defensive rating the past two weeks, indicating the Tatum/Brown duo should have a big game.
Boston (28-21) has one of the best records to the under, but the lack of production by their bench is a concern during foul trouble. I will back the over between two solid offensive teams. I expect the Celtics to hang a good number on the Pelicans, and a full New Orleans roster to easily reach 100 points.
Risk: 1.10 units on DraftKings to win 1 unit. (Bet up to -120)
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