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NBA

Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics Predictions, Picks, Odds

Michael Crosson
Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read

Nationally televised NBA coverage will resume on Friday night with a compelling non-conference showdown between the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics. Coverage begins from TD Garden at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

SCORE PREDICTION

Nuggets 113, Celtics 108

BEST BETS

Nuggets +4 (-110) at DraftKings

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DENVER NUGGETS VS. BOSTON CELTICS PREDICTIONS

After finishing third in the West with a record of 47-25 SU last year, Denver stumbled out to a surprisingly pedestrian start to this season, as the Nuggets opened with a lackluster 20-19 SU and 16-23 ATS stretch – while averaging just 105.6 PPG offensively across that window.

The Nuggets have dominated since the midway point of January though, considering Denver boasts records of 10-5 SU and 7-7-1 ATS across their last 15 games – while generating 120.4 PPG offensively and surrendering just 112.5 PPG defensively during that span.

On the other hand, Boston also posted a surprisingly poor start to this season, as the Celtics kicked things off with a lackluster 15-20 SU and ATS skid – with ten of those SU losses coming by double-digits.

The Celtics have played solid basketball at both ends across their latest stretch though, considering Boston enters Friday’s contest riding a sturdy 15-6 SU run – while averaging 110.1 PPG offensively and allowing just 98.3 PPG defensively during that timeframe.

I’ll back Denver here, as the Nuggets are 7-3 SU across their last ten games, while averaging 118.3 PPG offensively during that timeframe – likely presenting a tall task for a Celtics squad that’s scored 107 PTS or less in 11 of their last 19 contests (108.7 PPG).

DENVER NUGGETS VS. BOSTON CELTICS BETTING ODDS

More Odds | Futures Odds

DENVER NUGGETS VS. BOSTON CELTICS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: Northwest vs. Atlantic
  • Date: Friday, February 11, 2022
  • Venue: TD Garden
  • Location: Boston, Massachusetts
  • TV-Time: NBATV - 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Injury Report

DENVER NUGGETS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 30-24
  • ATS: 23-30-1
  • O/U: 29-24-1

Despite the season-long absence of Jamal Murray, Denver has played solid basketball so far this season, as the Nuggets hover at sixth place in the West with a record of 30-24 SU – currently trailing the fifth-place Mavericks by just one game.

The Nuggets have still experienced their fair share of additional health issues, highlighted by Michael Porter Jr. and Austin Rivers both joining Murray on the sidelines recently. As long as Jokic is healthy though, I still like my chances with Denver in this matchup, considering the Nuggets have tallied 115+ PTS in six of their last eight games (119 PPG) – while the Celtics have scored 111 PTS or less in 11 of their last 19 events (109 PPG).

BOSTON CELTICS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 31-25
  • ATS: 28-27-1
  • O/U: 23-32-1

After last year’s lackluster 36-36 SU showing, Boston kept that same ball rolling with another mediocre start to this season, as the Celtics kicked things off with a pedestrian 15-20 SU stretch – despite getting tagged as favorites in 22 of those contests.

Boston has played excellent since New Year’s Eve though, considering the Celtics enter Thursday’s event riding an impressive 15-6 SU run, while scoring 114+ PTS in nine of those contests (110.1 PPG) – and allowing 100 PTS or less in 12 of them (98.6 PPG).

The Celtics are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games. (AP)

DENVER NUGGETS VS. BOSTON CELTICS HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Celtics swept a two-game regular-season set against Denver last year, with both matchups staying well under the total set for Friday’s affair at an average of 201.5 PPG.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • DEN: Nikola Jokic - C (25.8 PPG, 13.6 REB, 7.9 AST)
  • DEN: Will Barton - SG (15.6 PPG, 5 REB, 4.1 AST)
  • BOS: Jayson Tatum - SF (25.5 PPG, 8.4 REB, 4.1 AST)
  • BOS: Jaylen Brown - SG (23.9 PPG, 6.5 REB, 3.2 AST)

DENVER NUGGETS VS. BOSTON CELTICS BETTING CONCLUSION

After extending their win streak to six games with a victory over Brooklyn on Tuesday night (W, 126-91), the Celtics enter Thursday’s contests as 3.5-point home favorites over the Nuggets at TD Garden – marking the first time Boston has been an underdog across their last seven games.

I’ll back Denver here, as despite Boston heading into Thursday riding a sturdy 13-6 SU run, the Celtics still dwell at 9-10 ATS across their last 19 games, while averaging just 108.7 PPG offensively during that span – setting the stage for a relatively unfavorable home matchup against a Nuggets squad that’s scored 115+ in six of their last eight contests (119.5 PPG).

DENVER NUGGETS VS. BOSTON CELTICS BETTING TRENDS

  • The Nuggets are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games.
  • The Celtics are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 11 of the last 15 games Nuggets' games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in seven in the last nine Celtics' games.
  • The Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last five matchups against Boston.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson
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