Boston Celtics vs New Orleans Pelicans

The atmosphere at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans is set to be intense on Monday, October 27, 2025, as the New Orleans Pelicans host the Boston Celtics at 8:00 PM ET. Both teams enter the matchup winless, with Boston at 0‑3 and New Orleans at 0‑2, making this an early‑season battle to gain momentum and confidence.

Injuries are heavily influencing both rosters. Boston will be without Jayson Tatum, sidelined indefinitely with an Achilles injury, while Jaylen Brown is questionable due to a hamstring issue. Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are also unavailable, putting the onus on Derrick White and Payton Pritchard to manage the offense. New Orleans is missing Dejounte Murray with an Achilles injury, Kevon Looney due to a knee problem, and Karlo Matkovic with a back injury, while Yves Missi is listed day‑to‑day. Rookie Derik Queen is expected to play a key role in the frontcourt to compensate for the absences.

Tactically, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla is focusing on maximizing defensive effort and controlling the glass while finding secondary scorers to fill the void left by Tatum and Brown. The Celtics are likely to emphasize ball movement, perimeter shooting, and forcing turnovers to create easy scoring chances. New Orleans coach Willie Green is building his strategy around Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole, and Saddiq Bey, aiming to exploit Boston’s defensive weaknesses and control the pace, particularly in transition.

Media coverage has centered on the struggles both teams have faced early in the season. Analysts have highlighted Boston’s 0‑3 start as concerning, emphasizing how the absence of their stars has limited offensive firepower. For New Orleans, the press is focusing on how the Pelicans’ depleted roster will manage against a historically disciplined team like Boston, while praising the potential impact of their healthy contributors and young talent stepping into bigger roles.

Studio analysts predict a tightly contested game where execution and depth will determine the outcome. New Orleans Pelicans have a slight edge due to home-court advantage and healthier key players, but Boston’s ability to adapt, defend, and generate scoring from role players could keep the contest close. Commentary emphasizes that controlling the tempo, rebounding, and minimizing turnovers will be decisive factors in this early-season matchup, with both teams eager to avoid a winless start.