Boston on Four-Game Winning Streak
The Boston Celtics try to win a fifth straight game when they face the host Denver Nuggets in a battle of conference leaders on Sunday night. Boston has won four straight and has a two-game lead over the Brooklyn Nets at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Denver has won 9 of its last 11 games and leads the New Orleans Pelicans by a half-game for the top record in the Western Conference. Both teams would like to send a message with a win in this one, so to help with your wagering on this game, check out our NBA betting preview of the showdown.
Let’s check the latest NBA odds, stats, injury reports, and NBA lines for Celtics vs Nuggets. We’ve plenty of NBA betting odds for you to consider.
Celtics Hoping for Better Road Trip
The last time the Boston Celtics went on an extended road trip, they came back with a pair of blowout losses that started a string of five setbacks in six games. They’re hoping for a better result this time, as Sunday’s game starts a four-game string that includes visits to every NBA team in Texas.
Having a 1-2 punch like the Celtics have in forward Jayson Tatum and guard Jaylen Brown will certainly help. The duo is scoring a combined 58.0 points per game while also grabbing 15.3 rebounds and dishing out 7.4 assists between them.
One of the two has led the Celtics in scoring in each game, with the duo alternating team scoring lead over the last seven games. Both players are able to score anywhere on the floor, whether it’s driving to the hoop or hitting from long range, as they each shoot at least 33% from 3-point range.
The return of center Robert Williams III to the Celtics lineup has been a slow process, as he’s played six games since returning from knee surgery. Williams is averaging 8.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in just 18.8 minutes per game off the bench.
Nuggets Looking To Improve Despite Wins
The Denver Nuggets aren’t going to be satisfied with a bunch of regular-season wins this season. Denver has been one of the top teams in the NBA over the past few seasons, but they’ve yet to advance to the NBA Finals, and they continue to try to improve to reach that goal. Even after a comeback win against the Miami Heat in their last contest, the Nuggets were already trying to find ways to get better.
“Our communication is a big part of taking that next step and becoming a championship-caliber team,” Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said after Friday’s win. “Our fourth-quarter defense and offense is great. But now our goal is just try to do it throughout the 48 minutes and not wait on the fourth quarter.”
Center Nikola Jokic continues to be one of the top players in the NBA, as he had his eighth triple-double of the season (19 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists) in Friday’s win over Miami. The two-time reigning NBA MVP is averaging 25.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and 9.5 assists this season.
Guard Jamal Murray continues to get back to his old form after missing more than a season with a knee injury. Murray is averaging 18.2 points and 5.7 assists but has played in just 29 games this season and is questionable for Sunday’s contest due to injury management of his knee.
Celtics vs Nuggets Game Injuries
Celtics vs Nuggets Head-to-Head
The Celtics have a 59-37 advantage over the Nuggets, including the last five regular season contests. They won 124-104 on the road last time out, with the Nuggets winning last in 2019.
Celtics vs Nuggets Game Information
- Game: Celtics (26-10) vs Nuggets (23-12)
- Location: Ball Arena
- Day/Time: Sunday, Jan 1, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Celtics vs Nuggets Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Celtics vs Nuggets Betting Lines
Celtics vs Nuggets Picks & Prediction
It’s going to be tough for either defense to make stops, but the Celtics have slightly more depth and home advantage.
We’re happy to take the -4½ with NBA betting markets, and we would have taken -5½. Therefore, take the Celtics to win and take the team total over 117 points as well.
Boston is listed at -190 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Boston, you have a chance to win $54. Denver is +163, offering a chance to win $163 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Boston a 65.52% chance to win, with Denver at 38.02%.
Celtics vs Nuggets Trends
Celtics vs Nuggets Edge
Celtics vs Nuggets Results
Celtics vs Nuggets Game Summary
