The Denver Nuggets (24-12) face the Boston Celtics (23-12) on Wednesday. Tip-off from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, is set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Nuggets vs. Celtics odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
2024-25 season series: Celtics won 2-0.
The Nuggets snuck past the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday 125-124. They covered as 14.5-point road dogs on the back half of a back-to-back and Over (228.5) was smashed. They were without C Nikola Jokic (knee) and G Jamal Murray (ankle). G Jalen Pickett led the way with 29 points on 7-for-11 shooting from downtown. They’re 2-2 since Jokic went down Dec. 29.
The Celtics have won 4 in a row and 8 of 9 after a 115-101 victory against the Chicago Bulls on Monday. They covered as 10.5-point favorites while the Under (236.5) hit. G Anfernee Simons lit it up off the bench with 27 points on 8-for-14 from three-point land. F Jaylen Brown was just 6-for-24 (25%) from the floor for 14 points.
Nuggets at Celtics odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Nuggets +300 (bet $100 to win $300) | Celtics -375 (bet $375 to win $110)Against the spread (ATS): Nuggets +9.5 (-110) | Celtics -9.5 (-110)Over/Under (O/U): 233.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Nuggets at Celtics key injuries
Nuggets
G Christian Braun (ankle) probableF Aaron Gordon (hamstring) probableG Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness) probableF Cam Johnson (knee) outC Nikola Jokic (knee) outG Jamal Murray (ankle) probableC Jonas Valanciunas (calf) out
Celtics
F Josh Minnott (ankle) outF Jayson Tatum (Achillles) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Nuggets at Celtics picks and predictionsPrediction
Celtics 111, Nuggets 108
The Celtics are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings and Denver is getting a couple of starters back. However, without Jokic, it’s Boston here, and the Celtics (-375) are too expensive.
Instead, I’m going ANFERNEE SIMONS OVER 2.5 THREE-POINTERS (-120). Over his last for games, he’s 8-for-14, 5-for-8, 4-for-7 and 4-for-10, a combined 51.4%.
Give me NUGGETS +9.5 (-110). They play good teams tough and should be getting Gordon and Murray back for this one. They recently lost to Cleveland by 5 and Orlando by 1.
The Nuggets are 6-4 O/U in their last 10, and the Celtics are 3-7. Both teams are middle-of-the-pack defensively, and this total is a little too tall for my liking.
Go UNDER 233.5 (-105).
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