The New Orleans Pelicans head to TD Garden on Friday with a depleted roster and a 26-54 record, while the Boston Celtics enter at 54-26 and second in the Eastern Conference. Boston has already clinched a playoff berth, and New Orleans is officially out of postseason contention in the West.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM ET in Boston. The teams met once earlier this season, and the Celtics won that game 122-90 on October 27.
New Orleans is missing nearly 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 without their leading scorers, primary two-way wings and most of their frontcourt depth.
That injury list matters because the Pelicans have leaned heavily on Williamson and Murphy this season. Williamson has averaged 21.0 points on 60.0% shooting, while Murphy has led the team at 21.5 points per game with 3.2 made threes.
With those pieces sidelined, New Orleans will have to lean even more on Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Fears averages 13.7 points and 3.4 assists, while Queen has put up 11.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
Boston is in better shape, but it is not fully healthy either. Jayson Tatum is out with Achilles repair management, Jaylen Brown is questionable with left Achilles tendinitis, and Derrick White and Sam Hauser are both listed as probable. Neemias Queta is probable with right toe sprain.
That makes Brown’s status the most important one on Boston’s report because he is the Celtics’ top available scorer if Tatum sits. Brown is averaging 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists, and White adds 16.6 points and 5.4 assists when available.
The Celtics still have enough depth to control the matchup, especially with Payton Pritchard averaging 17.0 points and Queta supplying 10.3 points and 8.3 rebounds.
New Orleans, meanwhile, has one win in its last two games, including a 156-137 victory over Utah, but this trip gets much tougher without its core.
