Celtics vs. Pelicans Betting Line
The Celtics vs. Pelicans betting line was available at Sportsbook.ag, which featured the following: Boston -1.0, Total: 212
BOSTON CELTICS (11-9) at NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (5-15)
The Pelicans will be going for their second straight victory when they host the Celtics on Monday.
Boston had won two straight games before losing 108-105 as an 8.5-point underdog in San Antonio on Saturday. This team has now covered in three straight games and one thing it will need to do on Monday is defend. The Celtics have held their opponents to under 100 points in each of their 11 victories this season. They do not like to get involved in shootouts and will do their best to make the Pelicans uncomfortable on Monday.
New Orleans defeated the Cavaliers 104-108 in overtime on Friday. The team had lost four straight games both SU and ATS heading into that contest, but it could be just what the Pelicans needed to turn their season around.
One thing worth noting in this matchup is that the Celtics have covered in four straight meetings between the teams. Boston is also 8-0 ATS in a road game where the total is greater than or equal to 210 over the past two seasons. New Orleans, however, is 13-4 ATS in home games after having lost two of its past three games over the past two seasons.
The Celtics have been playing very well recently and PG Isaiah Thomas (21.0 PPG, 6.4 APG, 1.7 SPG) is a huge reason for that. Thomas competes hard on both ends of the floor and should be able to give the Pelicans a lot of trouble on Monday. He had 23 points and eight assists in the loss to the Spurs on Saturday and has scored 20 or more points in six of the past eight games.
SG Avery Bradley (16.4 PPG, 1.8 SPG) is another player who is really heating up for the Celtics. Over the past five games, Bradley is averaging 19.2 PPG and 2.2 SPG. He has shot 50.7% from the field and 48.4% from the outside in that span and if he can continue to be this effective as a two-way player, the Celtics should be able to keep rolling.
One guy who really must turn things around on Monday is C Jared Sullinger (10.3 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.0 SPG). Sullinger is Boston’s best offensive big man, but he is averaging just 5.0 PPG and 5.5 RPG over the past two games. He has played just 20.5 MPG in those games and has been dealing with a bit of an illness, but he must be more productive if he is going to play through it.
PF Anthony Davis (24.2 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG) has found his groove for the Pelicans and is now averaging 26.0 PPG, 11.2 RPG and 3.0 BPG over the past five contests. Davis is also 4-for-7 from the outside over the past three games and his ability to shoot the three is starting to open up the floor for him more.
Another thing that is helping Davis is the return of SF Tyreke Evans (14.7 PPG, 9.3 APG, 6.0 RPG), who is pretty much playing point guard for the Pelicans. Evans had 14 points, 10 assists and seven boards against the Cavaliers last game and it was his second game with 10 assists since returning from injury. He will need to keep penetrating and creating shots for his teammates moving forward.
One more player who must keep up his solid play is PF Ryan Anderson (18.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG), who has taken his game to another level this season. Anderson has really helped this team with not only his outside shooting (37.4% 3PT), but also his ability to score around the basket. He has really worked on his post game and that should help against an inconsistent Boston frontcourt on Monday.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
