The New Orleans Pelicans head to TD Backyard on Friday with a depleted roster and a 26-54 report, whereas the Boston Celtics enter at 54-26 and second within the Jap Convention. Boston has already clinched a playoff berth, and New Orleans is formally out of postseason competition within the West.
Tip-off is about for 7:30 PM ET in Boston. The groups met as soon as earlier this season, and the Celtics won that game 122-90 on October 27.
New Orleans is lacking almost all of its core. Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Saddiq Bey, Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones, Yves Missi, Karlo Matkovic and Bryce McGowens are all out, leaving the Pelicans with out their main scorers, major two-way wings and most of their frontcourt depth.
That injury list issues as a result of the Pelicans have leaned closely on Williamson and Murphy this season. Williamson has averaged 21.0 factors on 60.0% taking pictures, whereas Murphy has led the staff at 21.5 factors per sport with 3.2 made threes.
With these items sidelined, New Orleans must lean much more on Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Fears averages 13.7 factors and three.4 assists, whereas Queen has put up 11.3 factors, 6.8 rebounds and three.7 assists.
Boston is in higher form, however it isn’t totally wholesome both. Jayson Tatum is out with Achilles restore administration, Jaylen Brown is questionable with left Achilles tendinitis, and Derrick White and Sam Hauser are each listed as possible. Neemias Queta is possible with proper toe sprain.
That makes Brown’s standing an important one on Boston’s report as a result of he’s the Celtics’ prime out there scorer if Tatum sits. Brown is averaging 28.8 factors, 7.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists, and White provides 16.6 factors and 5.4 assists when out there.
The Celtics nonetheless have sufficient depth to manage the matchup, particularly with Payton Pritchard averaging 17.0 factors and Queta supplying 10.3 factors and eight.3 rebounds.
New Orleans, in the meantime, has one win in its final two video games, together with a 156-137 victory over Utah, however this journey will get a lot more durable with out its core.
