Boston and Denver Meet in Possible NBA Finals Preview
Celtics vs Nuggets Preview and Matchup
NBA fans rejoice! We are in for a treat on Thursday when the defending champion Denver Nuggets take on the top-seeded Boston Celtics. This cross-conference matchup between the two favorites to win the NBA championship (Boston +210, Nuggets +420), should be a candidate for game of the year.
Both teams are coming off disappointing losses to conference foes and will be looking to bounce back on national TV on Thursday.
The intensity will be turned up in this one, so expect more of a playoff atmosphere where hopefully we see some high-quality defense and minimal referee interference. Lines opened at Boston -1.5 on the road and the total set at 221.5.
Let’s take a look at this Celtics vs Nuggets preview and look at the NBA betting odds and more.
Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets 
Day/Time:
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Streaming: TNT
Denver Not Revealing Their Hand
The Denver Nuggets have been difficult to understand this season. Coming off a dominant run through the 2023 NBA playoffs in route to the franchise’s first championship, they have been a bit lackluster this season.
Currently the 3rd seed in the crowded Western Conference, the Nuggets standings aren’t as phenomenal as many expected. They still however are top ten in offensive and defensive rating.
Some believe Denver simply isn’t as good as last year, but we believe they are just lying in wait. Denver knows breaking themselves for regular season victories isn’t going to leave them healthy and ready for another championship run, they’ve been here before.
That being said, games like this are exactly when Denver likes to remind everyone how scary they are (Denver has big wins against the Celtics, Warriors, Bucks, 76ers, and Lakers already this year).
Even though Denver’s season has been a bit lackluster, their star Nikola Jokic has been anything but. In a campaign that may land him his third MVP award in four years (currently a -155 favorite to win MVP), Jokic is again a staple of NBA stats leaders.
He is currently top five in total points, assists, and rebounds, an accomplishment only ever reached by Jokic and Wilt Chamberlain. Expect the Joker to arrive Thursday with his game face on.
The most unstoppable play in basketball. pic.twitter.com/OPDzHXuTCd
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) March 3, 2024
Boston Still Looking to Prove Themselves
The Boston Celtics have had the complete opposite approach to the regular season. Without a championship to hang their hat on (yet?), Boston’s core decided to use this season to show everyone exactly how serious of contenders they are.
The Celtics have the top record in the league, are first in offensive rating, second in defense rating, and now have one of the largest point differentials of all time.
Before blowing a 22-point lead to the Cavaliers Tuesday, the Celtics also had a dominant 11-game winning streak going. This streak was largely behind their league-leading defense, during which the Celtics only allowed 104.6 points per game (league average is 115 ppg).
Boston giving almost two points on the road in Denver shows exactly how great they have been recently, but their blown lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers is somewhat concerning as their winning streak may have taken more out of them than expected.
Nuggets Underdogs at Home?
The main takeaway from this Celtics vs Nuggets preview is that these teams are elite. The spread of Boston -1.5 and total 221.5 suggests that this not only will be a close game but low-scoring as well. The Nuggets are 11-19 on over/under at home and the Celtics have hit the under in four of their last five games.
These teams also only totaled 202 in their previous matchup. We expect playoff intensity on Thursday which makes this under look especially good.
In their previous matchup, the Nuggets ruined the Celtic’s undefeated home winning streak in a 102-100 victory. Even in a low-scoring game, both Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic were able to eclipse 30 points with 35 and 34 points in the game respectively.
Boston decided not to double-team Jokic in their January loss, a strategy that if used again makes Jokic’s point total an interesting prop bet.
After this Celtics vs Nuggets preview, we like the Nuggets to have a slight edge at home over Boston. If the Nuggets were able to beat Boston on their home floor, why shouldn’t they have even more of an advantage at altitude? This one could be a toss-up, but expect a low-scoring game that will be a treat for NBA junkies everywhere.
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