Pelicans Clash With NBA-Leading Celtics In Important Game To Keep Playoff Positioning

New Orleans, LA - The New Orleans Pelicans (45-28) host the team with the NBA's best record, the Boston Celtics (57-16), on Saturday afternoon in the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans beat the No. 2 seed in the East on Thursday and must now face the Celtics, who have beaten the Pelicans five straight times. Boston is on a two-game losing streak, dropping both games to the Atlanta Hawks by a combined three points.

The Celtics get it done on both sides of the court. They are the only team in the league with an offensive and defensive rating in the top three. Boston's balanced attack is led by All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum, who averages 27.3 points per game on a team that is second in the NBA in scoring the basketball (121.1). His running mate, Jaylen Brown, averages 23.3 points on 50% shooting from the field. The Celtics are the NBA's best three-point shooting team, leading the league in attempts, makes, and percentage.

New Orleans counters with the league's best defensive three-point percentage and will get a major boost back on the defensive end. Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels will return from a knee injury that kept him from playing the last month and a half. Daniels played one game for the Pels G League Birmingham Squadron, scoring 22 points and grabbing seven steals. Daniels is still Top 10 in the NBA in deflections per game, despite missing so much time with injury.

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has carried the offensive load in Brandon Ingram's absence. Williamson has averaged 31 points and six assists over the last three games. Ingram hyperextended his knee a week ago and will be re-evaluated next week to check progress. Trey Murphy III is getting the start for Ingram, and he's delivered 13 points per game in the four games since Ingram went out. The Pelicans are 3-1 in those games.

Boston won a close game earlier in the season between these two teams. Closing games has been an issue all season for New Orleans. The Pelicans are 1-6 in games decided by four points or less. With the playoffs approaching, New Orleans hopes to change that stat, with the competition being fierce and close games expected in the postseason. The Pelicans have two games remaining on this home stand after Saturday, hosting the Magic on Monday.