Pelicans face Celtics: NBA odds preview

The Celtics will try to cover the spread at TD Garden on Friday when they get a visit from the Pelicans in basketball action.

(Note: follow us on Twitter for line updates and injuries news). The Celtics are 13-19 so far on the season, and 15-17 ATS vs. the number. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are 14-16 and 13-15-2 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen Boston go 12-20 and the Pelicans go 18-12 on the totals.

View New Orleans Pelicans vs Boston Celtics Odds and Stats.

The Pelicans were listed as -1.5-point favorites at many online sportsbooks (including Sportsbook), with the total listed at 200.5 earlier in the day (check Sportsbook for updates during the day).

According to new Power Rankings at Odds Shark, it's the No. 20-rated Celtics and the No. 12-rated Pelicans in this matchup. Predictive computer formulas point to a 92-90 win for the Pelicans on Friday.



The Pelicans were a 124-112 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Timberwolves. They failed to cover the 5.5-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (236) made winners of OVER bettors. The Pelicans wasted a 25-point performance from Ryan Anderson as Minnesota ran past them 124-112 on Wednesday at Target Center.

Last time out for Boston, they were a 94-82 loser as they battled the Bulls on the road. The Celtics failed to cover in the match as a 5-point underdog, while 176 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. The Celtics endured a 94-82 loss at the hands of the Bulls on Thursday, despite a 22-point effort from Jordan Crawford at United Center.

How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Boston's No. 26-ranked offense (94.69 PPG) against a Pelicans defense that ranks No. 27 at 103.23 PPG. The Celtics have averaged 44.96% from the field per game, less than the Pelicans have managed so far this season (45.46% on average).

Next up:
New Orleans at Indiana, Saturday, January 4th
Boston at Seattle, Sunday, January 5th