Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics Prediction, Preview, and Odds
The Denver Nuggets are traveling to TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts to face the Boston Celtics. Denver is 28-14 this season and ranks third in the Western Conference. Boston is 32-9 this season and sits at the top of the Eastern Conference. This season each team has won one game at home against the other. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.
Denver Focusing on Defense
The Denver Nuggets are traveling to Boston after their loss on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers with a final score of 121-126. Denver this season has been letting their defense keep them in most of the games they play. The Nuggets are seventh overall in points allowed per game, allowing 111.4 per game. They seem to be aiming to stop their opponents at the three point line where they rank third in both three pointer attempts allowed and three pointers made against them. Denver also ranks sixth in the NBA in defensive rebounds.
On offense the Nuggets are not doing terrible as they average 116.3 points per game. The Nuggets seem to not make that many shot attempts but rather focus on the quality of shot. Denver is ninth in three pointer shooting percentage and fourth in field goal shooting percentage. Denver prefers to score around the paint as they are fourth in field goals per game.
The Top Team in the East
The Boston Celtics are hosting Denver after another win on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs with a final score of 117-98. This would be the third win in a row for the Celtics and their 20th straight win at home this season. Boston is ranked fifth overall this season in points per game, averaging 120.9 points. They have been able to succeed on offense with them ranking number one in three pointer attempts per game and number one in three pointers made per game. The Celtics are also allowing the least amount of defensive rebounds due to them making most of the shots they make.
The Celtics on defense are playing just as well as they also rank fifth in points allowed per game, allowing 110.9 points per game. While the Celtics are stopping quality shots with their opponents only shooting at a 35.4% at the three point line and 45% around the paint. Boston allows the third most shots per game in the paint and is ranked 26th in shots attempts allowed at the three point line.
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Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
While the Denver Nuggets have one of the top ten defenses in the league, the Boston Celtics are ranked fifth in defense and offense. I expect Denver to struggle as they will not be able to use their strength at rebounding against a Boston team that allows the least defensive rebounds when shooting. Both teams in their last three games are averaging 121 and 122 points per game but it is Boston who is only allowing 102.3 points per game as opposed to Denver who is allowing 116 points per game. In Denver's last four games played in Boston, they have lost all four games and three of those games covered a -6 spread with one ending exactly at six.
I am siding with the Celtics at -6.
Prediction: Boston Celtics -6 ( -112 )
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
While both teams are playing well offensively, their defenses are what makes them shine. In their last five games played against each other, the total of three of those five games went under 234 with one of them ending exactly at 234. When we take their averages on both offense and defense this season, in their last three games, and home/away we get a projected total of 230. When we factor in both teams' average pace of 101.7 possessions per game, we get a final score of 233. While close to the line is still favoring the under.
I am taking the under at 234.
Prediction: Under 234 ( -110 )
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Anthony has always been surrounded by sports. Whether its watching the Penguins win the cup or the Steelers winning another ring, he saw what it took to win it all. He enjoys breaking down stats and applying them to spreadsheets to better his picks. With the combination of watching trends and his spreadsheets, Anthony has been very successful as a sports bettor. His last name is the German word for people and it is clear that he is the people's choice when it comes to handicapping.
