In a non-conference matchup, the Celtics (-210) travel to the Smoothie King Center to take on the Pelicans (+173) at 5:00 ET. The Celtics are favored by 5.5 points and the over/under line is 223.5.

Boston is 57-16 and has lost two straight games. They currently hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference. New Orleans is 45-28 and is currently 5th in the Western Conference.

BOSTON CELTICS VS NEW ORLEANS PELICANS BETTING PICK

The Pick: New Orleans Pelicans +5.5

This game will be played at Smoothie King Center at 5:00 ET on Saturday, March 30th.

WHY BET THE NEW ORLEANS PELICANS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 116-114 in favor of the Celtics.
  • Our projections have Jayson Tatum finishing with Jayson Tatum points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
  • From the field, we have the Celtics finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.1% and knocking down 19 threes.

Will the Celtics Find a Way to Win in New Orleans?

Boston’s O/U record for the season is 37-35-1, and the over has hit in five straight games. Today’s O/U line is set at 223.5, which is lower than their season average of 230.9 points per game.

The Celtics are 37-33 against the spread this season, and they have failed to cover in their last two games. On the road, their ATS record is 18-18.

In their last game against the Hawks, the Celtics lost by a score of 123-122. The O/U line for that game was 228.5, and Boston was favored by 15.5 points.

Overall, the Celtics are 57-16 this season, which is the best record in the Eastern Conference. Against other Eastern Conference teams, they are 38-9 and 19-7 vs. the West.

As the favorite, the Celtics are 55-15 this season, and they are favored by 5.5 points today. Against the spread, they are 35-32 as the favorite and 2-1 as the favorite.

Heading into tonight’s game, the Celtics are one of the most potent offenses in the league, ranking 2nd in points per game at 121.1. They have been especially good from beyond the arc, leading the NBA with 16.6 made threes per game.

On the road this season, the Celtics are averaging 119.1 points per game. Overall, they have outscored the NBA scoring average in 75.3% of their games.

In terms of pace, Boston is 19th in the league at 97.5 possessions per game. They are also one of the top three-point shooting teams, ranking 2nd in three-point percentage at 39%.

So far, the Celtics’ defense is ranked 6th in the league at 109.8 points per contest. Inside the arc, the Celtics defense is giving up a shooting percentage of 52.4% and 34.7% from three-point territory.

Is a Home Win Possible for New Orleans?

The Pelicans’ ATS record this season is 40-32, including a 20-15 ATS record at home and 20-17 ATS on the road. As the underdog, they are 17-11 ATS and have covered the spread in their last two games as the underdog.

This season, New Orleans has an O/U record of 31-42, and 49 of their games have had higher over/under lines than today’s line of 223.5. The Pelicans’ games have averaged 225.9 points per game.

New Orleans is coming off a 107-100 win over the Bucks. They were 2.5-point underdogs in that game and have now won two straight games on the road. The game finished with a combined scoring total of 207 points, which was below the O/U line of 226.

In the Western Conference, the Pelicans are currently in 5th place with a record of 45-28. In non-conference games, they are 19-9 compared to 26-19 against other Western Conference teams.

At home, the Pelicans are averaging 116.2 points per game, which is 14th in the NBA. Overall, they are 13th in scoring at 115.6 points per game. In terms of pace, they are 18th in the NBA at 97.5 possessions per game.

When it comes to shooting, New Orleans is 8th in field goal percentage at 48%. They are also 8th in three-point shooting at 37%. In terms of three-point attempts, they are 25th in the league.

So far, the Pelicans have outscored the NBA scoring average in 50.7% of their games. In terms of assists, they are 11th in the league with an average of 27 per game. When it comes to offensive rebounds, they are 16th in the NBA.

The Pelicans’ defense is presently ranked 8th in the league, allowing an average of 110.4 points per contest. Opponents are hitting 55.0% of their two-point field goal attempts this season, and they’re also connecting on 34.5% of their three-point attempts.