Celtics Can Clinch No. 2 Seed Against Struggling Pelicans

Boston looks to bounce back from loss to Knicks in second game of back-to-back

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:07pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game in motion, with players and the court deconstructed into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.The Celtics look to clinch a top playoff seed by breaking down the struggling Pelicans in a cubist-inspired visual.Boston Today

The Boston Celtics have a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs when they host the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. The Celtics are coming off a loss to the Knicks on Thursday, but will look to get back on track against one of the worst teams in the Western Conference. The Pelicans will be without several key players due to injuries, including leading scorers Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson.

Why it matters

The Celtics are fighting for playoff positioning, and a win against the Pelicans would secure the No. 2 seed in the East. This would give them home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Pelicans, on the other hand, are simply trying to finish the season strong despite a number of key injuries.

The details

The Celtics are 54-26 on the season and have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games. They rank seventh in the league in offensive rebounds per game, led by Neemias Queta. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are just 26-54 on the year and have lost 8 of their last 10 games. They will be without several key players, including Murphy, Williamson, Bryce McGowens, Yves Missi, and Dejounte Murray.

  • The Celtics are coming off a loss to the Knicks on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • The Celtics and Pelicans will play on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM.
  • The Celtics wrap up the regular season on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at home against the Magic.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A star forward for the Celtics who missed Thursday's game due to left Achilles tendinitis.

Trey Murphy III

The Pelicans' leading scorer who will miss the game due to a right ankle sprain.

Zion Williamson

The Pelicans' other leading scorer who will sit out due to right knee injury management.

Neemias Queta

A Celtics player who is averaging 3.0 offensive rebounds per game, leading the team.

Saddiq Bey

A Pelicans player averaging 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

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What’s next

The Celtics will wrap up the regular season on Sunday at home against the Magic. The NBA play-in tournament will be held next week before the first round of the playoffs begins on April 18.

The takeaway

This game represents an opportunity for the Celtics to secure the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and gain home-court advantage in the first round. Despite the Pelicans' recent struggles, the Celtics will need to avoid a letdown after their loss to the Knicks in order to take care of business at home.