In upcoming NBA action, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Boston Celtics will face one another on Monday, January 29th, 2024 (7:40 PM ET). The Celtics are coming off a home loss but they remain 20-2 as hosts this season. Boston is favored in the game at -8.0 (bet365) as they face the Pelicans at a time when they are struggling. My Pelicans vs Celtics prediction focuses on a player prop involving New Orleans' center, Jonas Valanciunas.
NBA Matchup: Pelicans vs Celtics
Away: New Orleans Pelicans
Home: Boston Celtics
Game time: Monday, January 29th, 2024 @ 7:40 PM ET
Pelicans vs Celtics odds (home team's spread): -8.0 (bet365)
New Orleans vs Boston Prediction: Recent NBA Headlines
The New Orleans Pelicans last played on Saturday, a game that they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 141-117. The result saw the Pelicans fall to 26-20. While they remain six games above .500, New Orleans has gone just 3-5 in their last eight games.
New Orleans Pelicans: Recent Form Alert
Formerly: 23 - 15 heading into January 12th, 2024
Currently: 26 - 20 (overall)
Recent form: 3 - 5 since January 12th, 2024
Recent winning rate: .375
New Orleans Pelicans injuries: recent news
Despite recent struggles, the team does not carry any injuries into the game against the Celtics. Their depth chart with ESPN is clear as of late on Sunday night. That should help make them competitive, however, the Pels were in good shape against Milwaukee and still lost by 24.
Double-check for playing status updates with New Orleans (23:38 ET time of writing):: Team's Depth Chart
The Boston Celtics last played on Saturday as well. This was a home game for them, one that produced their worst home spread of the season. The team fell 115-96 to the LA Clippers, a result that adds some credibility to LA as a favorite to win the NBA title. After starting the season at 20-0 at home, Boston has now lost two straight games as hosts.
Boston Celtics injuries: recent news
The team does have injuries noted in their depth chart with ESPN. All of the injuries are among their post-players. Kristaps Porzingis is questionable for the game, the team's starting center. Al Horford and Luke Kornet, the backup centers for Boston, are also each questionable for the game. These updates were from Marc D'Amico of the official website with the Celtics on Sunday afternoon.
Double-check status updates Boston (23:38 ET time of writing):: Team's Depth Chart
Pelicans vs Celtics Prediction: Betting Tips
Boston to cover a moderate spread of -8.0 is a tough bet to take without some positive news about the health of their centers. The worst-case scenario is that Porzingis, Horford, and Kornet all miss the game on Sunday. Accordingly, this could be a game where Neemas Queta, the team's fourth-string center, is an important player. He does not seem that bad for a player deep on the bench, but if he is overly relied on you have to be skeptical of how well he will play. In 48 minutes of playing time so far this month, he has just 18 points and 17 rebounds.
You have to like Jonas Valanciunas in this game, NO's starting center. There is a chance that he is the best center in the game. He is priced at +165 for a double-double. He has had three of them in his last four games and the one that he missed was just by a single rebound. If Porzingis ends up missing this game, then you love Valanciunas' chances for a double-double, however, at +165 he's worth a risk in any event. My recommendation for this game is to take him on this player prop.
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