The Premium NBA Wednesday Free Bet: New Orleans Pelicans @ Boston Celtics (-9.5 | O/U: 231.5)

Two of the NBA’s best teams meet in Boston tonight, as the New Orleans Pelicans travel to face the Boston Celtics. 

Boston has been excellent this year. Their 29-12 record is the best in the NBA, and affords the team the distinction of being the current title favorites. However, despite their pristine record, Boston has not been such an easy bet of late (1-4 ATS since January 1st). Perhaps the Celtics’ reputation has overvalued them, and there is an inherent edge in betting against them at this time.

Conversely, the Pelicans too have had a stellar year. New Orleans has withstood injuries to the likes of Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson admirably, as they still find themselves third in the Western Conference standings halfway through the season. The Pelicans’ ability to tread water in the absence of key players is credited to their deep bench, as the majority of their relief players grade out positively, per 538’s RAPTOR ratings. 

It is because of such depth that we elect to side with New Orleans tonight. The Celtics will have the best player on the court tonight in Jayson Tatum, but the Pelicans still have the personnel necessary to contend. Too, the Celtics are/ may be short-handed defensively, as Marcus Smart and Robert Willams hold a Questionable designation heading into the contest, and may be looking ahead to a far more crucial matchup in Brooklyn tomorrow night. 

Bet: Pelicans +10 (-125)

This is a much closer matchup than the public realizes. The sustained absences of both Willamson and Ingram has not been so detrimental to New Orleans on a night to night basis, and we feel confident that they can keep it to single digits in the Garden. 

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