New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics Pick & Prediction JANUARY 11th 2023
The New Orleans Pelicans will look to end the Boston Celtics' five-game home winning streak when the teams meet Wednesday night.
Despite shooting just 11 of 41 from behind the 3-point arc (26.8 percent), Boston picked up its fifth straight home win by beating the Chicago Bulls 107-99 Monday. The Celtics were without guard Marcus Smart (knee contusion), but Jayson Tatum had 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the victory.
Tatum is averaging a team-high 30.8 points per game. No Celtics player has averaged 30.0 points per game in a season, with Larry Bird at 29.9 in 1987-88..
William Taylor
"Credit to our guys," Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. "I thought this was one of our better wins, one of our complete wins, because of our mindset and toughness. And so, regardless of the result on either end of the floor, we kept a certain body language and a certain focus about us ... a togetherness, a commitment to the details, and it was really fun to watch the guys do that I think that's what helped us win the game."
With Smart not available, center Robert Williams got his first start of the season Monday. Since returning from a knee injury, Williams came off the bench in each of his nine previous appearances.
Although they played without leading scorer Zion Williamson (26.0 points per game) and Brandon Ingram (20.8), the Pelicans set a season high for points in Monday night's 132-112 triumph over Washington. CJ McCollum scored a game-high 34 points and New Orleans also received 27 points and 12 rebounds from center Jonas Valanciunas.
It was McCollum's fourth consecutive game with at least 25 points and the fifth straight double-double for Valanciunas.
"We just tried to establish his presence," McCollum said about Valanciunas. "He's efficient in the post. He gets us to the bonus faster. He gets us points at the free throw line even if it's not a shot attempt. And that makes him screen better. That makes him defend better and do those things. Just got to be cognizant of that as the season progresses. Even when guys come back, we got to make sure he's eating."
Williamson missed his fourth straight game with a right hamstring strain and Ingram hasn't played since Nov. 25 because of a toe contusion. New Orleans coach Willie Green said Ingram might begin practicing this week.
The Pelicans are 6-3 in games Williamson and Ingram have missed. Valanciunas is averaging 20.0 points and 12.3 rebounds in the four-game stretch in which Williamson hasn't played.
"It's always fun to play good and to play winning basketball," Valanciunas said. "There's no doubt about that. We're missing our two main guys, so everybody's got to step up and everybody's got to do some extra stuff to be able to win the game."
Wednesday's matchup will be the second meeting between the Celtics and Pelicans this season. Jaylen Brown had 27 points and 10 rebounds to help Boston earn a 117-109 road victory on Nov. 18. Boston had 20 3-pointers in the win.
Ingram led New Orleans with 25 points (five 3-pointers). Williamson also missed that game with a bruised right foot.
The Celtics have a 16-5 home record, while the Pelicans are 8-11 on the road.
--Field Level Media
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics Recap JAN 17TH 2022
Jayson Tatum scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Boston Celtics rallied from 18 points down to beat the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 104-92 in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee on Monday.
Dennis Schroder scored 23 with nine assists and five boards, and Jaylen Brown had 23 points and eight boards. Al Horford contributed 12 points and seven rebounds for Boston, which earned a second straight win and its fifth in six games overall.
Jonas Valanciunas posted a double-double with 22 points and 14 boards to pace the Pelicans. Herbert Jones scored 16 and Brandon Ingram totaled 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
The Pelicans suffered a second straight loss after winning three of their four previous contests.
Boston played without starters Marcus Smart (COVID-19 health and safety protocol) and Robert Williams III (personal reasons). Smart missed his fourth straight game -- the first of which last Wednesday was due to a right thigh contusion.
New Orleans remained without star forward Zion Williamson as he rehabs a foot injury away from the team. Kira Lewis Jr. also remains out after suffering a season-ending ACL tear and MCL sprain in his right knee.
New Orleans was up 46-39 at halftime after stretching its lead to 18 in the second quarter. The Pelicans led 42-24 after Devonte' Graham's 3-pointer with 4:23 left before Boston closed the period on a 15-4 surge.
Boston took its first lead on Schroder's 3-pointer with 33.8 seconds remaining in the third as the hosts outscored New Orleans 32-23 in the third quarter to carry a 71-69 advantage into the fourth.
The Celtics continued their offensive onslaught in the final period, leading by as many as 17 while outscoring the Pelicans 33-23.
The Pelicans opened a 29-18 lead after the first quarter.
Boston continues its four-game homestand on Wednesday night versus Charlotte. New Orleans wraps up its three-game road trip at New York on Thursday night.
--Field Level Media
- NBA
