Who’s playing
New Orleans Pelicans @ Boston Celtics
Current records: New Orleans 8-31, Boston 27-11
How to watch
- When: Sunday January 12, 2025 at 6 p.m. ET
- Or: TD Garden – Boston, Massachusetts
- TV: Gulf Coast Sports
- Follow: CBS Sports app
- Online broadcast: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Ticket cost: $76.00
What you need to know
Pelicans fans have better hope that the team plays a heck of a game on Sunday, because the odds are decidedly against them. They will face the Boston Celtics at 6 p.m. ET at TD Garden. The Pelicans will strut after a win while the Celtics will stumble after a loss.
Last Friday, the Pelicans managed to pull off a solid victory against the 76ers, winning the game 123-115.
Among those leading the charge was CJ McCollum, who went 6 of 11 from beyond the arc en route to 38 points.
The Pelicans worked as a unit and finished the game with 31 assists. They easily outscored their opponents in this department as the 76ers only posted 23.
The Celtics entered Friday’s game with a huge advantage in the spread, but given the result, that advantage might have gone to their heads. The game between them and the Kings wasn’t a total blowout, but with the Celtics falling 114-97 at home, it was very close to turning into a draw.
Despite the loss, the Celtics had strong performances from Jaylen Brown, who scored 28 points to go with five assists, and Kristaps Porzingis, who shot 4 of 7 from downtown and had a double-double with 22 points and ten rebounds. Additionally, Porzingis also racked up four threes, the most he’s had since March 2024. Derrick White’s dreadful 0-6 three-point shooting was less helpful for the Celtics.
New Orleans’ victory improved their record to 8-31. As for Boston, their loss dropped their record to 27-11.
The Pelicans fell short against the Celtics in their previous meeting in March 2024, losing 104-92. Can the Pelicans avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We’ll know soon enough.
Odds
Boston is a big favorite with 14.5 points against New Orleans, according to the latest NBA Odds.
Oddsmakers had a good idea of the line for this one, as the game opened with the Celtics as 14-point favorites.
The over/under is 226 points.
See NBA Pick for every game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get Picks Now.
History of the series
Boston has won 7 of its last 10 games against New Orleans.
- March 30, 2024 – Boston 104 vs. New Orleans 92
- January 29, 2024 – Boston 118 vs. New Orleans 112
- January 11, 2023 – Boston 125 vs. New Orleans 114
- November 18, 2022 – Boston 117 vs. New Orleans 109
- January 29, 2022 – Boston 107 vs. New Orleans 97
- January 17, 2022 – Boston 104 vs. New Orleans 92
- March 29, 2021 – New Orleans 115 vs. Boston 109
- February 21, 2021 – New Orleans 120 vs. Boston 115
- January 26, 2020 – New Orleans 123 vs. Boston 108
- January 11, 2020 – Boston 140 vs. New Orleans 105
