[8:10 PM] Celtics @ Pelicans

Who will WIN this matchup?

Boston Celtics (5-4)

@ New Orleans Pelicans (1-9)

 

Current Odds:

Boston Celtics (-200)

New Orleans Pelicans (+170)

 

• The line for this game is Celtics by 5 points.

• The Boston Celtics hope to have All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas in the lineup and could welcome back big man Al Horford when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. Thomas sprained his left middle finger in Saturday’s 105-99 win at the Indiana Pacers but recovered to score his team’s final eight points and finish with 23.

• With Horford and forward Jae Crowder (ankle) still out, and Thomas banged up, Boston was pleased with a rare contribution from reserve swingman James Young, who entered Saturday having gone scoreless in 19 minutes on the season but emerged to record 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting.  Kelly Olynyk chipped in 16 points and is averaging 17.5 and 6.5 rebounds in two games – both wins – since being inserted into the starting lineup.

• Davis played through back pain in the loss to the Lakers and continues to forge ahead through mounting frustration as the superstar of a franchise that looked to be heading in the right direction but it 31-61 the last two seasons. The rest of New Orleans’ starters combined to score fewer points (16) than rookie reserve Buddy Hield (18), although he was 1-of-4 from 3-point distance and is shooting 23.6 percent for the league’s worst long-range squad (28.8).

• Thomas has scored at least 23 points in each of the first nine games this season.

• Pelicans PG Jrue Holiday (personal reasons) is expected to make his season debut this week, although reports suggest it will be Wednesday against Orlando or Friday against Portland.

• Boston has won four straight meetings and picked up a 111-93 win in its previous trip to New Orleans.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Boston Celtics

Confidence: 5/10

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