Celtics vs. Pelicans Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets
The New Orleans Pelicans (26-20) are 8-point underdogs against the Boston Celtics (35-11) at TD Garden on Monday, January 29, 2024. The game tips at 7:30 PM ET on NBCS. The over/under is set at 233 in the matchup.
Celtics vs. Pelicans Odds
How to Bet on Celtics vs. Pelicans
Game Time and Information
Who Will Win Celtics vs. Pelicans?
Celtics and Pelicans Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread
The Celtics are 13-9-1 against the spread when favored by 8 points or more this season.
The Pelicans have not yet covered the spread as underdogs of 8 points or more this year (0-1).
Between them, these two teams average four more points per game (237) than this matchup’s total (233).
Boston and New Orleans have seen its opponents average a combined 9.3 fewer points per game than the over/under of 233 set in this matchup.
The average point total for Celtics games this season is two fewer points than the total of 233 in this matchup.
New Orleans’ games this season have averaged an over/under of 229.8 points, 3.2 fewer than the point total in this matchup.
Boston’s ATS record is 23-21-2 this season.
The Pelicans are 25-20-1 against the spread this year.
Celtics Stats & Insights
The Celtics’ +440 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 9.6 points per game) is a result of scoring 120.3 points per game (fourth in the NBA) while allowing 110.7 per contest (fourth in the league).
The Celtics are first in the league at 47.5 rebounds per game. That’s 3.4 more than the 44.1 their opponents average.
Boston knocks down 16.2 three-pointers per game (first in the league), three more than its opponents (13.2). It is shooting 37.9% from deep (sixth-best in the NBA) while allowing opponents to shoot 34.9%.
The Celtics’ 122 points per 100 possessions on offense rank second in the NBA, and the 112.3 points they allow per 100 possessions rank third in the league.
In the 2023-24 season, the Celtics are scoring 2.7 more points per home game on average than on the road (121.7 at home, 119 on the road), but are allowing 4.4 fewer points per home game compared to road games (108.4 at home, 112.8 on the road).
Pelicans Stats & Insights
The Pelicans are outscoring opponents by 3.7 points per game, with a +170 scoring differential overall. They put up 116.7 points per game (12th in NBA) and allow 113 per contest (13th in league).
New Orleans ranks 10th in the NBA at 44.4 rebounds per game. That’s 1.7 more than the 42.7 its opponents average.
The Pelicans hit 12.2 three-pointers per game (18th in the league) while shooting 38.3% from deep (fourth-best in NBA). They are making 1.3 fewer threes than their opponents, who drain 13.5 per game at 34.6%.
The Pelicans average 118.6 points per 100 possessions on offense (13th in league), and concede 114.8 points per 100 possessions (10th in NBA).
At home, New Orleans averages 116.1 points per game. On the road, it scores 117.4.
Celtics Key Players to Watch
Jayson Tatum averages 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Derrick White contributes with 4.1 boards and 4.7 assists per game in addition to his 15.6 PPG scoring average.
The Celtics get 3.0 three-pointers per game out of Tatum.
Jaylen Brown averages 1.1 steals per game, while Kristaps Porzingis has 1.8 blocks per contest.
Pelicans Key Players to Watch
The Pelicans go-to guy, Brandon Ingram, leads active Pelicans players in both scoring (21.3 points per game) and assists (5.6 assists per game).
Jonas Valanciunas has per-game averages of 13.9 points, 2.3 assists and 9.6 rebounds this season.
CJ McCollum hits 3.5 threes per game.
The Pelicans’ defensive effort gets a lift from Dyson Daniels’ 1.3 steals and Valanciunas’ 1.1 blocks per game.
Under (233)
Celtics 120 – Pelicans 111
