Boston Celtics vs New Orleans Pelicans Preview (11/18/22): Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds

The league’s hottest team, the Boston Celtics, will look to continue an impressive eight-game winning streak on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans. Check out the analysis for this game and the key matchups, current betting odds, updated injury reports, and projected starting lineups for both teams!

Boston Celtics Vs. New Orleans Pelicans Betting Odds

Boston enters this game against the New Orleans Pelicans as 2.5-point road favorites. The Celtics’ injury report looks similar to how it did at the beginning of the season; they will miss Robert Williams III and Danilo Gallinari. Marcus Smart has also been added to the report and is a game-time decision. For the Pelicans, Zion Williamson is questionable, and E.J. Liddell is out.

Boston Celtics Vs. New Orleans Pelicans Prediction

Boston has been on an absolute roll, winning its past eight games,  including four on the road. The Celtics look unguardable offensively, amassing an incredible offensive rating of 118.8, three points higher than the closest team.

During this eight-game stretch, Boston has had a team shooting split of 50/38/82 while beating its opponents by an average of ten points per game. Boston also returns Malcolm Brogdon, who missed roughly 4.5 of those games due to a nagging hamstring injury, further deepening its impressive bench. The scariest aspect about the Celtics is they aren’t even playing up to the level of their capabilities on the defensive end!

Boston finished the 2021-22 season as the best defensive team in the NBA, especially in the second half of the year. The C’s defense propelled them to the NBA Finals while conquering the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, and Brooklyn Nets, three formidable Eastern Conference opponents. If they can tighten up the strings on defense, it’s hard to see them losing many more games.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans are near full health, assuming Zion plays in this one. The Pels started the season with a great win against Brooklyn but slowed after that. Since losing to the Indiana Pacers on November 7th, they have won four of their past five games, most coming by double-digits. New Orleans is one of the few teams in the NBA in the top eight in offensive and defensive rating, and it should only continue to improve. Players like Trey Murphy III, Jose Alvarado, and Herb Jones have taken another massive step forward this season.

While both teams should be title contenders by the end of the regular season, only one can come away with a win in this game. Boston is a tough team to bet against due to the sheer dominance of its offense; however, I believe the Pels have a massive advantage on defense and the glass. Boston’s streak should end here as long as Zion takes the floor.

Betting Trends

• Boston is 4-4 ATS on the road in 2022-23
• New Orleans is 4-3 ATS at home in 2022-23
• The combined over record of these two teams is 18-11-1 in 2022-23

Key Matchups

The key matchup in this non-conference game will be a battle of the boards between the New Orleans Pelicans and Boston Celtics. Check out the complete analysis for this matchup below and see whether it sways you!

Battle of the Boards

Boston and New Orleans face off on Friday night, and there’s a lot to love about this contest. The C’s have won eight straight games, while the Pels have secured four of their past five.

One key factor in deciding this game’s winner is rebounding. Boston ranks merely 21st in total rebounding percentage, while New Orleans is fourth in the same category. Without Robert Williams, Al Horford has been forced to play the center position, which is not necessarily his natural spot.

Horford will have to defend Jonas Valanciunas, who has close to 30 pounds on him, while Williams will guard Williamson. Zion is close to 290 pounds, and I find it difficult for any combination of Grant Williams, Sam Hauser, or Luke Kornet to keep him at bay. Advantage: Pelicans.

Boston Celtics Starting Lineup

PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Grant Williams
C: Al Horford

New Orleans Pelicans Starting Lineups

PG: C.J. McCollum
SG: Herb Jones
SF: Brandon Ingram
PF: Zion Williamson
C: Jonas Valanciunas

Key Injuries

Boston Celtics Injuries: Danilo Gallinari (Out), Robert Williams III (Out), Marcus Smart (Q)

New Orleans Pelicans Injuries: Zion Williamson (Q), E.J. Liddell (Out)