Nuggets vs Celtics Betting Line
So how do you feel if you’re the Denver Nuggets, after losing one of the league’s best scorers in Carmelo Anthony, and have to face the NBA’s top defensive team, the Boston Celtics? Challenged! The question becomes, can the new-look Nuggets keep pace with the mighty Green from the East? Boston comes in favored by 4 (-110) at Sportsbook.com, and Bodog. Eyeballs at the Pepsi Center will be glued to the court on Thursday night at 10:30 pm ET, hoping the sky hasn’t fallen.
Latest Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Lines
At the time of this writing, no money line odds have been posted yet. Point spread and over/under odds are starting to get posted, and we’ll try to update these odds again, a few hours before game time.
| Sportsbook | Point Spread | Over/Under |
| Sportsbook.com | Celtics -4 (-110) | 203.5 (-110) |
| Bodog.com | Celtics -4 (-110)
Nuggets +4(-110) |
TBD |
| BetUS.com | Celtics -4 (-110)
Nuggets +4(-110) |
203 (-110) |
Boston Celtics at Denver Nuggets NBA Preview
Denver Nuggets
The new Denver Kniggets…oops, see how I did that? I meant Nuggets of course…and they are Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov. The four Knicks come west in exchange for Anthony and fan favorite Chauncey Billups. The Nuggets also get a 2014 first-round draft pick, two additional second round picks, plus $3 million in cash.
This helps to build the Nuggets for next year and beyond, but the questions is, can they gel in time to maintain a playoff spot? Right now, Denver sits seventh in the Western Conference, being heavily pursued by Utah and Memphis.
Denver also gave up Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman in the deal. Trade pundits and media types all point to the Knicks as the winners in this deal, but Gallinari is a strong player just beginning to develop. For New York, he averaged just over 15 points per game. Felton is a solid point guard (17.1 PPG) and led the Knicks in assists per game (9.0) and steals (1.8). Wilson Chandler has a host of potential as well and was solid in the Big Apple this year scoring 16.4 per contest while grabbing nearly six boards a game from the small forward position.
While there’s no clear star in Denver anymore, the new team should be able to spread the wealth and get a lot of guys involved.
Boston Celtics
The 2011 Boston Celtics are a veteran team, and unlike Denver will know their teammates names when they take the court on Thursday. Boston’s big three of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett lead the team, but the key player this year has been point guard Rajon Rondo. His development into a better passer and ball handler (his turnovers are down almost 30% from last season) has led Boston to the top spot in the east. The kid just knows how to play.
Kendrick Perkins’ return from injury has also helped in recent weeks, taking some of the pressure off Shaquille O’Neal and Glenn Davis to contribute.
Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets Prediction
For the Boston Celtics, this is the second game of a four game road trip. That doesn’t really mean anything though, as the Nuggets will be more focused on learning how to play with each other than against the Celtics. The ultra-experienced Celtics should take this easily, and I’m seeing them win by at least 6. We can get Celtics -4 (-110) at Sportsbook.com right now, and I’m loving this line. Personally, I’m breaking a rule of my own, doubling my self-imposed point spread betting limit.
Content below this line was from a previous meeting between the Nuggets & Celtics. We’re leaving it here for reference.
Owners of the top record in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics (16-4) host the Denver Nuggets (13-7) on Wednesday night at 7 pm ET at the TD Garden. At the Bodog sports betting site, the Celtics are favored by 7 points, and the over/under is 204. We’re taking the Nuggets +7, and the over.
Here’s a preview of the game:
Nuggets vs Celtics Game Preview
KG, Shaq and company have begun to mesh offensively and defensively. Kevin Garnett is moving like a kid again after his ankle and knee problems of the past two years. Garnett is scoring nearly 16 points a game so far this season. The Diesel has added a presence in the middle plus 11.7 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. Paul Pierce leads Boston with a scoring average of 19.6. Nate Robinson starred in the Celtics’ last game; a 25 point blowout of the hapless New Jersey Nets, scoring 21 points. Good news and bad news here though as Robinson was starting for likely All-Star Rajon Rondo who did not play due to a sore hamstring. He will be a game time decision. Rondo will be the key player in the match-up with Denver. If he plays, the Celtics will control the game. If not it should be a close game down the final minutes.
Another wild card is Big Baby Glen Davis who chips in almost 11 points off the bench and gives teams fits inside the paint.
The Nuggets heading to Boston is the second stop on a five game road trip so fresh legs should not be an issue. Denver has a top five offense but a bottom third defense as is often the case with Western Conference teams. Carmelo Anthony leads the team scoring 23.1 points and 8.1 rebounds a game. Nenê is having a breakout season, dropping in almost 14 points a game. The Nuggets had ripped off seven straight wins before losing to Charlotte on Tuesday night, and are one of hottest team in the NBA right now.
The game-deciding match-up to watch is Chauncey Billups against the Celtics point guard. If it is Rondo, watch him use his legs and outside shot to tire Billups. Robinson presents a similar threat but struggles to take care of the basketball sometimes and Billups is a defensive specialist. Billups is cagey and will make the Celtics work to get the open shot.
The lines have been posted, at Celtics -7 at home. I think the spread is too large, so we’re going with the Nuggets +7, and taking the over, set at 204.
Bet on Nuggets vs Celtics at Bodog.com
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