BOSTON @ NEW ORLEANS (BOS -5.5, 223)
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CELTICS VS. PELICANS 3/30/24
The Boston Celtics have lost consecutive games for just the third time all season. They'll try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of 2023-24 when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans today.
The Celtics (57-16) still have the NBA's best record and had won nine games in a row before losing twice in three nights to the Hawks in Atlanta. They lost a 30-point lead in a 120-118 loss Monday and dropped a 123-122 decision Thursday when Dejounte Murray made a basket in the final second of overtime. Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, had 13 rebounds, and dished out six assists in the loss on Thursday.
The nature of the two losses in Atlanta was disappointing, but Boston already has clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference so the rest of the regular season is essentially preparation for the playoffs. The Celtics, who are 2-2 on a six-game road trip that concludes Monday in Charlotte, were outrebounded 53-43. They also allowed the Hawks to finish with 17 offensive rebounds and 30 second-chance points.
Boston's Jaylen Brown said that the rebounding disparity might be "a good reminder that we've got to emphasize that," which is especially true because rebounding was a key to New Orleans' 107-100 home victory against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.
The Pelicans had an 11-5 edge in offensive rebounds, which led to a 17-5 advantage in second-chance points. Starting center Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 10 rebounds and reserve center Larry Nance Jr. had nine points and seven rebounds.
New Orleans (45-28) is 1-1 to start a six-game homestand that began with a 119-112 loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The first five games in that six-game run are against teams with winning records. The Pelicans are in fifth place in the Western Conference, but are in position to move into fourth and grab home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. It’s also possible that the Pelicans slip backward into a play-in spot.
The Celtics won the first meeting with the Pelicans, 118-112, on Jan. 29 in Boston. New Orleans led by 17 points in the first half, but Tatum scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter to lead Boston to the victory.
Boston is 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in its last five games against New Orleans. Despite losing their last two straight as double-digit favorites, the Celtics are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games. They are 20-16-2 ATS in road games this season.
New Orleans has won 10 of its last 13 games. The Pelicans are a top ten defense. They rank fifth in opponent field goal percentage and they are No. 1 in opponent three-point field goal percentage. It’s not surprising that the Under has cashed in 13 of New Orleans last 17 games. The Under has also hit in six of the Pelicans last eight home games and in five of the last six against Boston.
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CELTICS -6
