The Nuggets will visit the Celtics tonight in the first game of the Friday night doubleheader on ESPN. The Celtics have been untouchable at home this season with a 20-0 record although another top dog in the West gave them a run for their money last week. The Nuggets kicked off their 5 game road trip with a 126-121 loss to the Sixers on Tuesday so they've had a few days off but this will be the 2nd of 5 road games for them. Let's dive into this matchup and review our Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets Prediction for tonight.
Denver Nuggets:
The Nuggets are performing well offensively, ranking 5th in offensive rating, but are a bit lower in defensive rating, positioned at 13th. Their pace of play is relatively slow, ranking 28th in the league but they have still been playing high scoring games.
Denver's recent performance includes a mix of wins and losses going 3-2 over their last 5 games. However, their performance on the road has been less impressive, 11-10 on the road compared to 17-4 at home.
Boston Celtics:
The Celtics boast a strong offensive and defensive presence, ranking 1st in offensive rating and 2nd in defensive rating. They average 120.9 points per game, shooting 47.8% from the field and 38.1% from the three-point range.
Defensively, Boston allows 110.9 points per game, with opponents shooting 45.0% from the field. They excel in rim defense, ranking 3rd, and are also efficient in mid-range and three-point defense.
Boston has been undefeated at home this season (20-0), making TD Garden a tough venue for visiting teams.
Game Prediction:
The Celtics are favored to win this game, considering their strong offensive attack and dominant home record. Their efficient three-point shooting and stout defense, especially at the rim, give them an edge over the Nuggets.
Denver should be able to score some points on the Celtics despite their defensive rating since we have seen other top offensive teams score 120+ on the Celtics.
The game is expected to be competitive, but the Celtics' advantage at home and overall efficiency on both ends of the court might lead them to maintain their unbeaten streak at TD Garden. With that though, should come a lot of points.
Best Bet:
Celtics / Nuggets Over (233.5)
