Friday’s NBA matchup between the Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans should feature everything that a basketball fan could dream of watching. A true superstar will be on the court in Jayson Tatum, and between Brandon Ingram, C.J. McCollum, Jaylen Brown and potentially Zion Williamson, you will be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining NBA game on Friday’s slate.
On top of the star power, these two teams are very good, as the Celtics have proved their capabilities while the Pelicans have flashed theirs.
So, what will happen when these two teams meet on Friday night? We’ll lean on these players and their props to help decide the outcome.
Herbert Jones - Over 0.5 3-Pointers
With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown being the center of the Celtics’ offensive attack, expect to see a lot of Herb Jones out on the court trying to slow these two guys down.
And with a potential extension of minutes, Jones will naturally have more of an opportunity on offense to pick his spots. While 3-point shooting isn’t his strong suit, he is certainly more than capable of making one. Bet the Over.
Brandon Ingram - Over 21.5 Points
Brandon Ingram has been somewhat quiet early in this season, but that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been good. With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown sharing the court with him, expect Ingram to raise his level of play, especially if Zion Williamson is unable to play.
I like B.I. to score more than 21.5 points in what should be a pretty high-scoring game on Friday night.
Al Horford - Over 0.5 Blocks
As the C’s are still without Robert Williams III in the lineup, Horford is tasked with playing above 30 minutes on a nightly basis. Given his defensive versatility and proven eliteness on that end, it’s not hard to imagine him registering a blocked shot against the Pelicans.
Jayson Tatum - Over 4.5 Assists (-160)
In recent years, we’ve watched Tatum grow from a score-only kind of player to a guy who enjoys setting the table for others and letting the game come to him. Despite the slight dip in assists per game from a season ago, he’s still showcasing this season that he’s a good passer. He already has seven games this season in which he’s recorded at least five assists. which is why betting on him to earn more than 4.5 on Friday night wouldn’t be a bad idea.
