The Boston Celtics (0-3) are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans (0-2) on Monday night at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Both teams are struggling early in the season, but someone has to win this contest from the Crescent City. Before this contest begins in the NBA, continue reading to get my Celtics vs Pelicans prediction.
Our Celtics vs Pelicans Pick
- Pick: Pelicans -1.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Boston Celtics @ New Orleans Pelicans
- Date & Time: Monday, October 27, 2025, 8:00 PM ET
- Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
- Injuries: The Celtics will be without star forward Jayson Tatum due to a torn Achilles. The Pelicans are missing key players, including Dejounte Murray (Achilles) and Kevon Looney (knee). Yves Missi is also questionable.
- Celtics’ Struggles: Boston is looking to end a three-game losing streak, with rebounding being a significant concern. Despite Jaylen Brown’s 41-point performance against the Pistons, the team was outrebounded 55-38 in their most recent outing. They have to figure out a way to fix that if they are going to be even somewhat competitive with Tatum on the shelf.
- Pelicans’ Depth Issues: New Orleans has yet to find consistency. Zion Williamson is leading the team and appears healthy, but he is lacking support from other players. Their depth may be tested against a Celtics team eager for a win.
- Rest Disadvantage: The Celtics come into this game at a disadvantage when it comes to rest. They have to play for the second night in a row here, after losing in Detroit yesterday. The Pelicans last played on Friday and they will try to take advantage of being the fresher team here.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Recent Matchups: The Celtics won both of last season’s meetings against the Pelicans. They have won eight straight games against the Pelicans overall.
- Against the Spread (ATS): Boston is 0-3 against the spread so far this season. New Orleans is 0-1-1 against the spread.
- Over/Under (O/U): Boston is 2-1 to the over this season. The Pelicans have gone over the total in each of their first two games.
- Home/Road Splits: The Pelicans are 0-1 at home this season. Boston has dropped its first two road games of the year.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Zion Williamson | Over 26.5 Points |
| Jaylen Brown | Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made |
Celtics vs Pelicans Model Projection
- Score Projection: Celtics 110 – Pelicans 114
- Win Probability: Celtics 45%, Pelicans 55%
Final Thoughts
Both of these teams are looking for their first win of the season. I think that the Pelicans will be the team to get that win. New Orleans is by no means a good team but the Celtics are clearly not in a good place without Tatum on the floor. I’ll take the Pelicans to get a win in this matchup, as they should get into the win column for the first time at the expense of the struggling Celtics.
