The Denver Nuggets (14-5) visit the Boston Celtics (15-5) Friday at TD Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. We analyze the Nuggets-Celtics odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.
Nuggets at Celtics: Key injuries
Celtics
- SG Marcus Smart (abdomen) questionable
- SF Gordon Hayward (hand) out
Nuggets at Celtics: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Friday at 12:50 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Nuggets 109, Celtics 103
Moneyline (ML)
The Celtics are coming off a 112-93 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday. They’ve won their last two games and six of their last 10 as they enter Friday in second place in the Eastern Conference. The Nuggets beat the Knicks 129-92 in New York on Thursday and suit up for their second back-to-back of the season. They lost the second half of their first one in late October, losing 109-106 on home court to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2.
Still, the NUGGETS (+135) are the play as road dogs. No starter played more than 25 minutes in Thursday’s blowout victory and they’re better rested than most would assume for a back-to-back situation. Denver allows just 101.4 points per game to the opposition while Boston gives up 103.9 and is likely without a key defender in Smart.
Against the Spread (ATS)
Stick with the moneyline rather than taking a lesser payout to back the Nuggets on the spread (+2.5, +105). They haven’t lost a game by fewer than three points this season, and I like their chances of winning outright, anyway.
Denver is 9-9 ATS overall and 4-3-1 on the road. Boston is 12-6 overall and 5-2-1 at home.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Nuggets to win outright returns a profit of $13.50, while the same bet on the spread fetches a profit of $10.50, with just two points of insurance in the event of a loss.
Over/Under (O/U)
The projected total of 206.5 is the lowest on Friday’s slate. As noted above, the Nuggets were able to rest their starters for much of the fourth quarter against the Knicks so the likes of C Nikola Jokic, PG Jamal Murray and SG Will Barton should be largely unaffected Friday. Take the OVER (+105).
Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 67-57
Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]