by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Nov 18, 2022
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Where to watch: BSNO, NBCSB
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Celtics -3
FanDuel: Celtics -3
BetMGM: Celtics -2.5
Caesars: Celtics -3
Season record
Celtics: 12-3
Pelicans: 9-6
Pelicans: 9-6
What a thrilling start to the NBA season, and it's time to get your picks in for what should be an enticing season. A lot of new faces in new places already making an impact, and our champion handicappers are already starting to take notice. Look at our own Jack Banks off to a 3-0-0 start in the NBA this week. Nelly's Sports is also at 4-0-0 while Jim Feist has also cashed on his first two of the year. As the season progresses, you know we're going to be in a position to deliver you the best analysis and picks that one can have in this market. Make sure you check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to find all of our handicappers' selections, comprehensive previews, and more!
Team X - Team Y preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Celtics: won 8 straight; won 126-101 at Hawks on Wednesday
Pelicans: won 3 straight; won 124-110 vs. Bulls on Wednesday
The Boston Celtics haven’t missed a beat. There’s no Finals runner-up hangover in Beantown with eight straight wins and looking like the best team in the Eastern Conference (and maybe the entire NBA right now) through 15 games. But the Celtics will get a good test on Friday when they travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans, who are entering this game on a three-game winning streak and have kept their promising start afloat so far.
The Boston Celtics haven’t missed a beat. There’s no Finals runner-up hangover in Beantown with eight straight wins and looking like the best team in the Eastern Conference (and maybe the entire NBA right now) through 15 games. But the Celtics will get a good test on Friday when they travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans, who are entering this game on a three-game winning streak and have kept their promising start afloat so far.
The Celtics pride themselves on depth and have gotten that during this winning streak. Sure, Jayson Tatum looks like a bonafide MVP candidate right now and Jaylen Brown has had his moments of looking like a star in his own right, but when seven players score at least 14 points like Boston did in its 126-101 win against the Atlanta Hawks, it’s insane how good this team is.
"We've got a lot of guys who can do a lot of things to help us win games," said Derrick White, who had 16 points and 10 of the Celtics' 29 assists. "We trust every person on this roster. When they come in, they do good things for us. It's a long season. There are going to be injuries, people out. We're going to need everybody."
Boston has been able to not only sustain this without Ime Udoka on the sideline, but has been able to go another level with new coach Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics made 21 threes against Atlanta, and shot 54.5% from the floor.
"(It's) a credit to the guys for their humility, to step up when people aren't playing and for when it's not their turn, to be ready for when it is,” Mazzulla said. “Our depth allows us to play a lot of different ways and guys have fun doing it."
The Pelicans are trying to show they belong in that category of the Celtics. It’s going to take time, especially with Zion Williamson working his way back, but things look promising when he does. Right now, Williamson is day-to-day with a bruised foot, but the Pelicans are taking a three-game winning streak into this matchup after winning 124-110 against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
C.J. McCollum scored 23 points, and Jonas Valanciunas had 22 to lead the charge over Chicago. New Orleans hit 17 of 33 from 3-point range one night after hitting 18 threes against Memohis.
"We have to shoot some 3s," said Valanciunas, a 6-foot-11 center who made 2 of 3 from deep against the Bulls. "We have to shoot it, (and) we have great shooters. We have to use them (and) shoot 3s and make it."
It’s great to see this Pelicans team putting things together and looking as great as they do, even though there are still limitations in how far Zion can go right now. It’s just the matter of getting back to a 100% regimen where he can contribute full-time.
Prediction
If Zion was playing, I’d give New Orleans a much better chance to pull off the upset. The Celtics are still laying 3 at most books and that might be worth it to take if the Celtics can win the free throw game. Boston is the right play here. Celtics by 6
Betting trends
Celtics are 37-22 ATS on the road the last 2 seasons.
Celtics are 171-134 ATS on the road when playing 6 or more games in 10 days since 1996.
Celtics are 35-21 ATS after an under the last two seasons.
Celtics are 85-117 off a road win by 10 points or more since 1996.
Projected starting lineup
Celtics:
PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Grant Williams
C: Al Horford
Pelicans:
PG: C.J. McCollum
SG: Brandon Ingram
SF: Herb Jones
PF: Zion Williamson
C: Jonas Valanciunas
Key injuries
Celtics: Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring, probable), Robert Williams III (knee, out), Danilo Gallinari (knee, out)
Pelicans: None
Statistical leaders
Celtics:
Points: Jayson Tatum -- 31.1
Rebounds: Jayson Tatum -- 7.4
Assists: Marcus Smart -- 7.1
Pelicans:
Points: Zion Williamson -- 23.5
Rebounds: Jonas Valanciunas -- 9.4
Assists: C.J. McCollum -- 6.6
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Boston Celtics - New Orleans Pelicans prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
