Tonight’s Nuggets vs. Celtics Prediction and Picks

Tonight’s Nuggets vs. Celtics Prediction and Picks

Despite being in relatively good health at the moment, the Nuggets have listed Aaron Gordon (shoulder) as a probable starter for this contest.

Denver is ranked fifth in Modified Net Rating (+5.2) for the season, a position bolstered by its elite offensive (5th – 119.5).

This season, they have performed considerably better at home than on the road. Denver is 11-10 on the road despite its 17-4 record at home.

They have been unsuccessful in establishing an offensive flow and are averaging 8.6 fewer points away from home.

In addition, their road performance is limited to 7–14 ATS and 1-3 ATS for a road dog. They have encountered difficulties in this position notwithstanding their possession of exceptional talent.

It is unclear whether Denver’s struggles against top teams this season are a result of a lack of effort or a mismatch, but in comparison to their overall record, they have performed poorly.

According to Cleaning the Glass, when facing the highest 10 teams in terms of point difference, the team has an overall straight-up record of 5-7 and a -1.5 Net Rating.

In general, the Celtics have dominated the entire season. They have a perfect 20-0 record at home and are 32-9 overall.

As a home favorite, Boston has dominated with a 13-7 ATS record, an average margin in victory of 15.7 points, and an ATS number of +5.3.

They have performed splendidly at the residence. Moreover, the Celtics have also performed admirably against formidable opponents.

As per Cleaning the Glass, they are 10-4 with a +3.8 Net Rating towards other teams in the top 10 in point differential.

The Celtics’ 3-point shooting is among the best in the league, which is one of their greatest strengths.

Cleaning the Glass reports that they attempt three-pointers at the most frequent rate in the league or shoot an astounding 39.1% from deep.

Although Denver effectively restricts those attempts, their 3-point percentage permitted is marginally below the league average, as reported by Cleaning the Glass.

One individual whose performance I anticipate to be outstanding in this game is Kristaps Porzingis. Even in limited minutes, Porzingis has performed admirably against Jokic, averaging 20.5 points in 12 career contests.

His floor has been approximately sixteen points, and he faces one of Boston’s more formidable opponents.

With a per-game average of 19.1 points, the 16.5 and 17.5-point line for Porzingis appears to be slightly inadequate. I have faith that he will surpass both of those.

A major contributor to the Celtics having won each of the team’s first twenty home games this season is Jayson Tatum.

On Friday night, in front of the reigning NBA champion Nuggets, our NBA betting picks anticipate him to rise to the occasion.

Based on NBA odds, the January 17 matchup between the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets could serve as a preview of the NBA Finals.

The defending champions, the Nuggets have repeatedly demonstrated this season that they are capable of shifting into a higher gear than virtually every other team in the Association.

They appear content to wait until the playoffs, as they are not striving for victory in every regular season contest.

The challengers with a factor to prove are the Boston Celtics, who are seeking a crucial victory over Denver and to maintain their perfect 20-0 home record this season.

There are times when that describes the current state of Jayson Tatum’s career. Some individuals mistakenly believe that Tatum is not deserving of the title, possibly because he does not rank among the truly elite NBA stars alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid.

Since being drafted as a teenager, Tatum has consistently produced championship-caliber basketball for the Boston Celtics, initially as an elite role player and now as the preeminent big wing in the NBA.

He guards, shoots, slashes, plays on and off the ball, and a scoring outburst can decide the fate of any given game in his team’s favor.

Throughout each of the Celtics’ numerous point guard rotations—from the Kyrie Irving era to Marcus Smart to the days of Jrue Holiday or Derrick White—he has maintained his productivity and efficiency.

His multifaceted skill set ensures seamless integration of newcomers such as Kristaps Porzingis, as he contributes nothing that is not already present in any lineup.

Although Jayson Tatum has recorded a score of 27 or less in four consecutive games, the odds of this youngster facing the Denver Nuggets on Friday are unreasonably low.

Tatum’s lackluster performance in January can be primarily attributed to a string of defeats, for and against the Celtics, during which he appeared for an average of 32 minutes per game.