The New Orleans Pelicans (14-25) visit the Boston Celtics (25-11) Saturday at TD Garden for a 7:00 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Pelicans-Celtics sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Pelicans at Celtics: Key Injuries
Pelicans
- PF Zion Williamson (knee) out
- PF Derrick Favors (hamstring) doubtful
- PG Jrue Holiday (elbow) questionable
- SF Kenrich Williams (back) questionable
- SF Darius Miller (Achilles) out
Celtics
- C Vincent Poirier (finger) out
- C Robert Williams III (hip) out
- SG Romeo Langford (illness) doubtful
Pelicans at Celtics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Celtics 116, Pelicans 100
Moneyline (ML)
The Celtics (-589) are on their first three-game losing streak of the season. The Pelicans (+425) have strung together back-to-back victories over the Chicago Bulls (123-108) and New York Knicks (123-111) Wednesday and Friday, respectively. The Celtics are 14-3 at home for the season while the Pelicans are 7-13 on the road.
The home-court and rest advantages strongly favor Boston. The Celtics are 10-0 with a rest advantage this season and the Pelicans are 4-5 with the disadvantage, but the odds on the Celtics to win outright involve far too much chalk. The moneyline draws a PASS with a $10 bet returning a profit of just $1.70.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The CELTICS (-10.5, -115) will need to win by at least 11 points Saturday, and I fully expect them to do so. They’re 20-14-2 against the spread overall and 9-7-1 at home. The Pelicans are 18-19-2 ATS overall and 8-10-2 on the road.
Boston is 8-1-1 ATS with a rest advantage. They win by an average of 13.7 points and cover the spread by 8.1 points in such situations.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the UNDER 224.5 (-115). Boston ranks second in the NBA with an average of 104.4 points per game allowed, and they’ll be able to limit the output of the undermanned and tired Pelicans. On their own merit, the Celtics have been held below 100 points in two of their last three losses. Expect them to get back on track in the favorable matchup, but they won’t be lighting up the scoreboard, either.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 134-105
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