Spread the love

An NBA Game Day Preview between the Boston Celtics Vs New Orleans Pelicans – StatementGames alternative Fantasy Basketball, play for FREE and WIN CASH Rewards.

Jayson Tatum celebrating during a Boston Celtics game
Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics

When: 9:00 PM EST, June 22, 2021
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
TV: ABC

Point Spread: PHO -5
OVER/UNDER Game Total: 233.5

Boston Celtics

Record: 15-14
Road Record: 7-9
ATS: 15-14

New Orleans Pelicans

Record: 12-17
Home Record: 7-7
ATS: 12-17

Boston Celtics Vs New Orleans Pelicans Game Day Preview

Jayson Tatum dribbling in a Boston Celtics vs New Orleans Pelicans Game
Jayson Tatum – Celtics, Brandon Ingram – Pelicans

Zion Williamson and the Pelicans look to snap a two-game losing streak while Jayson Tatum and the Celtics try to keep their record above .500. The Celtics are coming off of a two-game set against the Hawks that ended in a 12 point Celtics win on Friday. Also, on Friday, the Pelicans lost to the Suns by 18.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics have managed to sustain a position towards the top of the Eastern Conference standings. They currently sit tied with the Pacers, at number four.

On Sunday, the Celtics will be missing Romeo Langford and Marcus Smart. However, their star duo, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will be fully healthy for this game.

This season, Brown has averaged 25.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists in 33.4 minutes. Brown has achieved his high points per game with a 40.9 three-point percentage while averaging 5.9 three-point attempts per game. Additionally Brown has a 50.6 field goal percentage.

Jayson Tatum has matched Brown’s points per game with 25.8 but has higher rebounds and assists per game with 7 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Tatum has a lower three-point percentage at 38.9 percent but also takes more shots.

The only other active player on the Celtics averaging more than 10 points is Kemba Walker. Walker is averaging 16.4 points which is his lowest average since his rookie season in 2011-2012. However, in his last four games, he has 22.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, and a 54.8 three-point percentage.

Walker is coming off of an outstanding game where he scored a season-high 28 points. Walker said, “It was a great win for us. I thought we played well. We moved the basketball. Defensively, we were in the right spots. Hopefully, we can really just build off this.”

The Celtics are an offensive team, but their lead rebounder is Tristan Thompson. Thompson has 8.3 rebounds per game which are down from 10.1 last year. He has also dropped off offensively, averaging 7 points per game which is five points lower than last year. Thompson will be an important piece of the Celtics defense going up against the Pelicans.

New Orleans Pelicans
NBA Fantasy Basketball

The Pelicans have struggled lately despite averaging 114.6 points per game. Their defense has been awful. They are number 12 in the Western Conference but are only 3 games back in the loss column from a playoff spot. They look to scratch at the standings with a win over Boston.

The Pelicans are led by Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. They each average 25 and 23 points per game respectively. Ingram leads the team in assists with 4.8 per game. Ingram, who is 6’8″ also leads the team in blocks with 0.9 per game. Williamson and Ingram also are the only Pelicans that average more than 4 free throws made per game.

Lonzo Ball has averaged a career-high 14 points in 31 minutes per game this year. He also leads the team with 1.2 steals. Ball has a 38.1 three-point percentage on 7.6 attempts per game from beyond the arc.

The only injury for the Pelicans is Steven Adams. Adams is questionable with an ankle sprain. The Pelicans hope that he will be healthy enough to play on Sunday.

Steven Adams is the Pelicans’ best rebounder; he averages 8.9 rebounds per game and could be a big loss if he is out on Sunday. The Pelicans’ next highest rebounder is Josh Hart with 7.5. Hart and Adams each average 28 minutes per game. If Adams doesn’t play, it will highlight the Pelicans’ ongoing defensive issues.

Boston Celtics Vs New Orleans Pelicans

  1. Celtics are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a losing straight-up record.
  2. Pelicans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog.
  3. Celtics are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up win.

Boston Celtics Vs New Orleans Pelicans Alternative Fantasy Basketball-Statement Games Picks

The below picks are the top picks of William Glasser from the Substantiate podcast.

  1. 10 PT Pick: Jayson Tatum OVER 27.5 PTS
  2. 9 PT Pick: Jayson Tatum UNDER 8.5 Rebounds
  3. 8 PT Pick: Zion Williamson OVER 7.5 Rebounds

Play Fantasy Basketball

Also Available In the Apple & Google Play Store

GIVE A BOOST