Boston @ New Orleans preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 11, 2020 ) New Orleans 105, Boston 140

The New Orleans Pelicans have been unable to crack into the win column in two games with star rookie Zion Williamson, and it won't get any easier Sunday when they host the Boston Celtics. Since a recent 10-4 surge that altered their outlook on the season, the Pelicans have gone 0-2 with Williamson - who missed the first 44 games following knee surgery - in the lineup.

The ultra-talented 19-year-old is averaging 18.5 points in 19.5 minutes on 75 percent shooting - including 4-of-5 from 3-point range - in his first two games, and he is hopeful that the team can break through soon. "My conditioning was a lot better even though it's only been one game and I feel like I'm getting my chemistry back with my teammates," Williamson told reporters following Friday's 113-106 loss to Denver at home. "I feel like I played all right." The Celtics routed the Williamson-less Pelicans 140-105 at home earlier this month and they enter the rematch having won three in a row, including a 109-98 triumph at Orlando on Friday. Fresh off his selection as an All-Star starter, guard Kemba Walker scored 37 points and recorded four steals to help Boston improve to 12-9 on the road.

TIME: 6 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN, NBCS Boston, FS New Orleans, TSN5

ABOUT THE CELTICS (30-14): Forward Jayson Tatum scored a career-high 41 points in the rout of the Pelicans on Jan. 11, but he sat out Friday's game due to a groin strain. Guard Jaylen Brown (ankle) and center Enes Kanter (hip) also missed the contest and Boston dug itself a 16-point hole in the second quarter before Walker led the comeback. "I thought (Walker) gave us everything he had in the first half and we were worried (whether) he would have much left," coach Brad Stevens said of his All-Star guard, who made 10-of-16 shots in the first half. "It was up to everyone else to take it to another level at that point and fortunately we did."

ABOUT THE PELICANS (17-29): Brandon Ingram carried New Orleans all season but had perhaps his worst effort in Williamson's second game, making 3-of-11 shots. His 13 points represents a season low for a game in which he was not forced to leave with injury, and his two rebounds were his lowest total in nearly a year. JJ Redick helped keep New Orleans in Friday's game with 18 points while making 5-of-7 3-pointers, moving him past Kobe Bryant and Chauncey Billups and into 14th place on the NBA's all-time list for made triples with 1,832.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Tatum was 16-of-22 from the floor and Kanter had 22 points and 19 rebounds in the 35-point win over the Pelicans earlier this month.

2. New Orleans SG Jrue Holiday is 9-of-28 from the floor since Williamson debuted after going off for a season-high 36 points on 12-of-18 shooting in Monday's win at Memphis.

3. According to Elias Sports, Williamson is the first player in NBA history to shoot at least 75 percent from the floor in his first two career games while attempting at least 20 shots.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 118, Celtics 115