dailyloe.com – The Boston Celtics host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at TD Garden. A Celtics win or a New York Knicks loss will clinch the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. This is the final back-to-back game on Boston’s regular-season schedule.
Jayson Tatum is out for the Celtics due to injury management. Jaylen Brown is available after missing Thursday’s game with left Achilles tendinitis. Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, and Derrick White are also listed as available.
The Pelicans will be without leading scorers Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson. Murphy has a right ankle sprain and Williamson is out for right knee injury management.
The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBCSB and WBZ-FM 98.5. Boston is a 16.5-point favorite with an over/under of 224.0 points.
The Pelicans have a season record of 26 wins and 54 losses. They are 2-8 in their last ten games. New Orleans scores 115.4 points per game but allows 119.6.
The Celtics have a season record of 54 wins and 26 losses. They are 7-3 in their last ten games. Boston scores 114.5 points per game and allows only 107.0.
Both teams have similar field goal percentages, near .467. The Celtics hold opponents to a .442 field goal percentage. Boston also averages 12.6 offensive rebounds per game.
The Pelicans are 9-30 in road games this season. They have an 8-41 record against teams with winning records. Boston has a 28-11 record at home.
Jeremiah Fears scored 40 points for New Orleans in a win Tuesday. That victory came against the last-place Utah Jazz. The Celtics wrap up their regular season Sunday against Orlando.
The NBA play-in tournament will be held next week. The first round of the playoffs begins on April 18. Friday’s game is a key step for Boston’s playoff positioning.[]
Source: The Boston Globe
