Pelicans at Celtics
While both are linked in a potentially massive four-team roster shuffle, New Orleans and Boston meet on the court Sunday in New England. According to reports, the Celtics have agreed to send leading scorer Jeff Green to Memphis in a three-team trade that would ship Pelicans guard Austin Rivers to Boston, which then might send Rivers on to the Los Angeles Clippers. Amid the chatter, the Celtics ended a 1-2 road trip with a 109-96 loss at Toronto on Saturday, losing for the ninth time in 11 games.
The Pelicans are beginning a season-high five-game road trip after thumping Memphis 106-95 on Friday behind 23 points from Jrue Holiday. On paper, the trip appears to be a relatively easy one, with four of the five games against losing Eastern Conference teams, but New Orleans has lost all six of its away contests versus the East and is just 6-13 overall away from home. The Pelicans claimed both meetings last season, including a 121-120 overtime thriller in which New Orleans forward Anthony Davis had a season-high 40 points and a career-high 21 rebounds.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, CSN New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (18-18): The win over Memphis came following a shuffled rotation that featured Tyreke Evans coming off the bench. The formula worked like a charm, as Evans was one of four 20-point scorers for New Orleans and added 10 rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes. The maneuver, which thrust Dante Cunningham into the starting lineup, enabled the squad to keep the starting backcourt of Eric Gordon and Holiday together, and the pair responded with a combined 36 points - including six 3-pointers - and 11 assists.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (12-23): The multitude of moves pulled off by Boston of late, which include the Rajon Rondo swap last month and another trade that sent Brandan Wright to Phoenix earlier this week, will provide the organization with an incredible wealth of draft picks and a chance for some of the holdovers to establish a greater leadership role going forward. Avery Bradley, in his fifth season with the team and to this point his healthiest, is assuming that role and taking ownership on the offensive end to go along with his standout defensive game. Bradley is averaging 17.3 points during this tumultuous month for the Celtics while making 11-of-23 3-pointers.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Celtics PG Jameer Nelson (ankle) has missed five straight games.
2. Davis is shooting 62.5 percent over the Pelicans' last four losses and 42.1 percent in their last four wins.
3. New Orleans ranks third in the NBA in blocks per game (six) while Boston is 25th (4.2).