New Orleans Pelicans (8-31) at Boston Celtics (27-11) Recreation #39 1/12/25

The Celtics face their sixth Western Convention crew in a row as they host the New Orleans Pelicans. That is the primary of two conferences between these two groups this season. They’ll meet as soon as once more in Boston on January 31. The Celtics have received their final 6 video games towards the Pelicans. The Celtics are 26-21 general all time towards the Pelicans and they’re 15-8 in video games performed in Boston.

The Pelicans have been lively within the offseason. Their greatest transfer was to commerce Dyson Daniels, Cody Zeller, EJ Liddell and Larry Nance, Jr to Atlanta for Dejounte Murray. They signed former Celtic Daniel Theis and Antonio Reeves as free brokers. They claimed Brandon Boston off waivers and signed him to a 2 manner contract. They drafted Yves Missi with the twenty first choose.

The Celtics stay 2nd within the East, however have slipped to six.5 video games behind the primary place Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve received 12 straight video games. They’re 2.5 video games forward of third place New York and 6 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee, who’ve received their final 3 video games. They’re 13-7 at house and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 5-4 vs Western Convention opponents and are coming off a loss of their final sport.

The Pelicans are fifteenth within the West. They’re 24 video games behind the primary place Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. They’re 11.5 video games behind tenth place Golden State and the final play in spot. they’re 2.5 video games behind 14th place Utah. They’re 3-15 on the highway and 3-7 of their final 10 video games. They’re 5-12 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’re coming off a win of their final sport.

After a 3-1 Western highway journey, the Celtics misplaced to the Sacramento Kings of their first sport at house after the journey. That is the second of two house video games towards Western Convention groups. They then head to Toronto to face the Raptors for the third time this season. They’ll then host Orlando and Atlanta earlier than their 2nd Western highway journey of the month by way of Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and Dallas.

The Pelicans are taking part in within the second sport of a 3 sport highway journey. They began the journey with a win in Philadelphia on Friday. They’ll play at Chicago after this sport. They then head house for a 4 sport house stand the place they are going to host Dallas, Utah for two video games, and Milwaukee. They then head out on the highway for video games in Memphis, Charlotte and Toronto. After a sport at house towards Dallas, they are going to play at Boston to complete out the month.

The Celtics have solely Drew Peterson on the harm listing as a result of concussion protocols. For the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram will miss his sixteenth sport as a result of a left ankle sprain. Herb Jones has been identified with a posterior labrum tear in his proper shoulder and can be out. Dejounte Murray is questionable with proper elbow tendonitis and a proper shin contusion. Jose Alvaredo will possible begin in his place if he can’t play.

Possible Celtics Starters

Celtics Reserves
Luke Kornet
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Sam Hauser
Baylor Scheierman
Jaden Springer
Xavier Tillman, Sr
Jordan Walsh
Al Horford

2 Means Gamers
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Anton Watson

Accidents/Out
Drew Peterson (concussion) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Possible Pelicans Starters

Pelicans Reserves
Jose Alvarado
Javonte Inexperienced
Karlo Matkovic
Trey Murphy III
Antonio Reeves
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Daniel Theis

2 Means Gamers
Brandon Boston
Keion Brooks, Jr
Jamal Cain

Accidents/Out
Brandon Ingram (ankle) out
Herb Jones (shoulder) out
Dejounte Murray (elbow/shin) questionable

Head Coach
Willie Inexperienced

Key Matchups

Jayson Tatum

Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Zion Williamson

Picture by Sean Gardner/Getty Pictures

Jayson Tatum vs Zion Williamson
Williamson is averaging 22.6 factors, 7.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.1 blocks per sport. He’s capturing 47.1% from the sphere and 25% from past the arc. Williamson has performed in simply 7 video games this season as a result of quite a lot of accidents. He was suspended for his or her final sport in Philadelphia as a result of being late for a crew flight. He ought to be wholesome and rested for this sport.

Derrick White

Picture by Logan Riely/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
CJ McCollum

Picture by Ned Dishman/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

Derrick White vs CJ McCollum
McCollum is averaging 22.7 factors, 3.6 rebounds, and three.8 assists per sport. He’s capturing 45.8% from the sphere and 38% from past the arc. The Celtics have to cowl McCollum on the perimeter as a result of he’s very able to hitting threes.

Honorable Point out
Jrue Vacation vs Dejounte Murray
Murray is averaging 16.3 factors, 6.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists and a pair of.4 steals per sport. He’s capturing 38.9% from the sphere and 26.1% from past the arc. He’s listed as questionable for this sport with elbow and shin accidents. If he can’t play, Jose Alvarez will possible begin in his place.

Keys to the Recreation
Protection – Protection will at all times be the important thing to profitable. The Pelicans common 107.4 factors per sport (twenty seventh) whereas the Celtics common 117.9 factors per sport (fifth). The Celtics are seventh within the league with a defensive score of 109.5. The Pelicans are twenty eighth with a defensive score of 117.7. The Celtics let up on protection towards the Kings and it price them the sport. They should play powerful lock down protection for all 48 minutes in the event that they need to win this, or another, sport.

Rebound – The Celtics should crash the boards as a crew. Rebounding takes effort and once they put that additional effort out to dominate the boards, it usually interprets to all different areas of the sport as properly. The Pelicans are averaging 42.7 rebounds (twenty fourth) and the Celtics are averaging 44.9 rebounds per sport (eleventh). The Pelicans are seventh within the league with 15.1 second likelihood factors and so the Celtics are going to should work laborious to maintain them off the boards to maintain them from scoring second likelihood baskets.

Keep Targeted – The Celtics have to remain centered on taking part in the best manner. They should deal with their ball dealing with and on their passes and never give the Pelicans free possessions by turning the ball over because the Pelicans common 18 factors off turnovers per sport. They’ve to remain centered on taking good photographs and on making them. If the surface photographs cease falling, they should get to the basket. They should deal with taking part in crew ball and on taking part in protection.

Be Aggressive – The Celtics have gotten to be aggressive in going to the basket, taking part in protection, diving for free balls and simply play more durable. Their effort and aggressiveness could make them very powerful to beat and their lack of it might make them susceptible as we noticed towards the Kings. They’re as soon as once more dealing with a crew that performs laborious and are aggressive and so they can’t afford to return out with lower than 100% effort or to let up earlier than the ultimate buzzer.

X-Components
Residence Recreation – The Celtics are at house for the second straight sport. The Pelicans are taking part in of their second straight highway sport. The Pelicans have struggled on the highway this season with an 3-15 report away from house. Hopefully the Celtics will come out able to play and get some motivation from the house crowd. They have been embarrassed at house of their final sport and wish to show that round and get a win on this sport. Defend house court docket.

Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise. Some are tyrants with the whistle and a few let the groups play. Some refs are very sensitive and name fast fouls and techs. The Celtics have to regulate their sport to nonetheless the refs are calling it. They will’t let missed calls and no calls get to them and make them lose their focus.

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