A pair of 8-3 teams will go against each other tonight, as the Boston Celtics host the Denver Nuggets in a cross-conference clash at 7 p.m. ET inside the TD Garden. Be sure to visit the OddsShopper tool for more NBA odds and best bets. Let’s take a look at each team’s recent performance, including the two stars Jayson Tatum and Nikola Jokic, and make our Nuggets-Celtics prediction.
Both teams are riding small winning streaks entering this matchup. The Celtics have won four in a row, including a 128-112 victory over the Detroit Pistons last time out. The Nuggets are coming off a 122-119 win over the Indiana Pacers for their fourth consecutive victory.
The Celtics opened as a 5.5-point favorite, but the line has dropped down to 4.5 at most shops. The total has moved to 230.5 after opening at 231. Bettors should head to FanDuel Sportsbook to tail the following Nuggets-Celtics odds and predictions.
Nuggets-Celtics Predictions and Odds
What to know about the Denver Nuggets
This will be the first time the Nuggets have been an underdog since Oct. 21, when they secured a 128-123 victory over the Warriors as a 5.5-point underdog. The Nuggets are 5-6 against the spread this season, while sporting a 4-3 clip away from home.
Back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic is up to his usual tricks, leading the team with an average of 21.2 points per game to go along with 9.9 rebounds and 9 assists per contest. Nikola Jokic labored through foul trouble last time, finishing with 24 points and six assists in the win over the Pacers.
From a total perspective, the Nuggets are 6-5 to the Over thus far. They rank sixth in the league with an average of 116.7 points per game, while surrendering 114.4 points per contest to rank 20th in defensive scoring.
What to know about the Boston Celtics
After winning the Eastern Conference with multiple seven-game series, the Celtics have shown no signs of slowing down to begin the 2022-23 campaign. Boston’s record is impressive, but it is worth mentioning this team is just 5-6 against the spread at this point in the year.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are once again pacing the Celtics from a statistical standpoint. Jayson Tatum is averaging 31.2 points per game on 49.8% shooting, adding 6.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest for good measure. Brown is posting 25.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
The Celtics were a defense-first team last year, so you would think they are more of an Under squad. They are actually 7-5 to the over through 11 games, ranking second in the league with an average of 118.7 points per game.
Final prediction and pick
The total is right in line with my projection, so my favorite bet is actually on the spread. I am laying the points with the Celtics at home.
Boston led the league in defensive rating a year ago, and it was the DNA that led this team to a NBA Finals appearance. It is impressive the Celtics have done well offensively to start the year, and think they have the firepower to pull away in this cross-conference clash.
In the best NBA game of the night, let’s bet on Boston to secure a comfortable win at home.
Nuggets-Celtics prediction: Celtics -4.5 (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook
