Free NBA Picks and Odds: Boston Celtics @ Denver Nuggets on TNT Preview and Expert Predictions – NBA Betting 2/24/11: Forward Paul Pierce and the same ole defensive Boston Celtics will go on the road to the Pepsi Center to take on Head coach George Karl’s new look Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at 10:30 PM ET on TNT Sports. The Nuggets have won a pair and sit at 33-25 – 2nd place in the Northwest – and currently would be a 6th seed in the Western Conference playoffs while the Celtics have won 3 straight and at 41-14 are in 1st in the Atlantic and a virtual tie with Miami as they battle for the one seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Nuggets Carmelo Anthony saga is finally over and this will be the first game that Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, and Danilo Gallinari will be available for Denver from the trade. Denver currently leads the league in points per game at over 107 and it will be interesting if this group can blend in and mesh to keep up that pace without the high scoring Anthony. They only had 8 players available on Tuesday night and 6 of them scored in double figures for a victory. “Our guys, when their backs are confronted with a difficult situation, they usually play at a high level,” coach George Karl said. “We always react to tough situations in a very positive way.” The odds makers at BetUs Sportsbook have the Boston Celtics a -4 1/2 point favorite on the road against the Denver Nuggets.
The Celtics are coming off a victory 115-93 on the road at the Golden State Warriors to move to 27-26-2 ATS for the season. Forward Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds and dished 6 assists while Pierce poured in 23 points. Point guard Rajon Rondo added 19 points with 6 boards and 15 dimes. Big Baby Davis came off the bench to score 12 points and grab 10 boards and will start as center with Kendrick Perkins just traded to Oklahoma City this afternoon. Vegas odds makers have Boston Celtics +270 to win the 2010-2011 NBA Championship.
Denver is coming off a victory 120-107 at home over the Memphis Grizzlies to move to 25-30-3 ATS for the season. Guard-forward J.R. Smith had 26 points 8 rebounds and 5 assist while guards Afflalo and Lawson each chipped in 21 points apiece in the shorthanded win. The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 5 games when playing at home against Boston. Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 203 1/2 points combined of the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.
MATCHUP: Boston (41-14) at Denver (33-25)
GAME TIME: 10:35 PM EST
TELEVISION: TNT
Recent Celtics and Nuggets Betting Odds Trends:
Boston: Under is 34-16-1 in BOS last 51 Thu. games.
Denver: DEN are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Over is 8-1 in DEN last 9 vs. Eastern Conference.
Head to Head: Home team is 10-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
Over is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
NBA Odds from Las Vegas
Favorite: Boston -4.5
Total: O/U 203.5
NOTE: These are the Morning Lines at the Mirage in Las Vegas
Rich Fritz’s Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls Free NBA Picks:
Play Denver +4.5
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