Celtics vs. Pelicans odds, line, spread: 2021 NBA picks, Feb. 21 predictions from model on 83-48 roll

The Boston Celtics will open a three-game road trip when they pay a visit to the skidding New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday afternoon. The Celtics (15-14) have won two of three following a 3-7 stretch that included consecutive defeats to the two worst teams in the Eastern Conference. The Pelicans (12-17) have won only once in their last six games and completely unraveled in the final 12 minutes against Phoenix on Friday night.

Tip-off is at 3:30 p.m. ET at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. William Hill Sportsbook lists Boston as a three-point favorite, while the over-under is 232 in the latest Celtics vs. Pelicans odds. Before making any Pelicans vs. Celtics picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks last season. The model is also up more than $8,400 on top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. Dating back to last season, it enters Week 9 of the 2020-21 NBA schedule on a stunning 83-48 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Pelicans. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Pelicans vs. Celtics:

• Celtics vs. Pelicans spread: Celtics -3
• Celtics vs. Pelicans over-under: 232 points
• Celtics vs. Pelicans money line: Celtics -150; Pelicans +130
• BOS: Celtics PG Kemba Walker has hit 17 of 31 3-pointers in the last four games
• NO: The Pelicans are only 12-9 this season when holding a double-digit lead

Why the Celtics can cover

Kemba Walker continues to sit out back-to-backs due to his ailing knee, but the point guard is in the midst of his best stretch of the season. He scored a season-high 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting and buried 5-of-8 3-pointers against Atlanta on Friday after sitting out vs. the Hawks on Wednesday. It was Walker’s third 20-point outing in four games, a span in which he’s averaging 22.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals.

While Boston is heavily reliant on the high-scoring duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, it received a much-needed boost from the forward line Friday. Tristan Thompson scored 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting while center Daniel Theis hit 7-of-9 shots en route to a 14-point, eight-rebound night. Reserve center Robert Williams added a spark off the bench with 12 points, seven boards and four blocked shots.

Why the Pelicans can cover

Zion Williamson continues to score at will, shooting at least 50 percent from the floor for the 10th consecutive game in Friday’s setback. Topping the team at 25.0 points per game, the second-year forward has been especially productive during the Pelicans’ recent slump, averaging 31.8 points over his last six contests. That includes scoring a career-high 36 points twice in that span for the 2019 No. 1 overall pick.

Second-leading scorer Brandon Ingram (23.6 points per game) netted a team-high 25 points on Friday, marking the 10th time in 11 games he has scored at least 20. Guard Lonzo Ball connected on 11-of-22 3-point attempts while scoring 21 points in each of the last two games to boost his season average to 14.3 per game. He had 12 assists Friday for his first double-double of the season and added three steals and two blocked shots.

How to make Celtics vs. Pelicans picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the total, projecting both teams combine for 223 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can get that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Pelicans vs. Celtics? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.