The New Orleans Pelicans will look to end the Boston Celtics’ five-game home winning streak when the teams meet Wednesday night.
Despite shooting just 11 of 41 from behind the 3-point arc (26.8 percent), Boston picked up its fifth straight home win by beating the Chicago Bulls 107-99 Monday. The Celtics were without guard Marcus Smart (knee contusion), but Jayson Tatum had 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the victory.
Tatum is averaging a team-high 30.8 points per game. No Celtics player has averaged 30.0 points per game in a season, with Larry Bird at 29.9 in 1987-88..
With Smart not available, center Robert Williams got his first start of the season Monday. Since returning from a knee injury, Williams came off the bench in each of his nine previous appearances.
Although they played without leading scorer Zion Williamson (26.0 points per game) and Brandon Ingram (20.8), the Pelicans set a season high for points in Monday night’s 132-112 triumph over Washington. CJ McCollum scored a game-high 34 points and New Orleans also received 27 points and 12 rebounds from center Jonas Valanciunas.
It was McCollum’s fourth consecutive game with at least 25 points and the fifth straight double-double for Valanciunas.
Williamson missed his fourth straight game with a right hamstring strain and Ingram hasn’t played since Nov. 25 because of a toe contusion. New Orleans coach Willie Green said Ingram might begin practicing this week.
The Pelicans are 6-3 in games Williamson and Ingram have missed. Valanciunas is averaging 20.0 points and 12.3 rebounds in the four-game stretch in which Williamson hasn’t played.
Wednesday’s matchup will be the second meeting between the Celtics and Pelicans this season. Jaylen Brown had 27 points and 10 rebounds to help Boston earn a 117-109 road victory on Nov. 18. Boston had 20 3-pointers in the win.
Ingram led New Orleans with 25 points (five 3-pointers). Williamson also missed that game with a bruised right foot.
The Celtics have a 16-5 home record, while the Pelicans are 8-11 on the road.
