A marquee matchup is on top this Wednesday in Mile High City, where the Denver Nuggets are hosting the defending NBA champions Boston Celtics. This is the first of two meetings in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, so all eyes will be on this potential NBA Finals preview. Will the Celtics add Demver to their list of victims? Or, will the Nuggets hit Boston with a rare loss?
Catch this game live on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM, Manila time
Away: Boston Celtics (26-10, 13-4 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- Jrue Holiday
- Derrick White
- Jaylen Brown
- Jayson Tatum
- Kristaps Porzingis
The Celtics got hit with a piece of reality check last Monday when they got ambushed in a 105-92 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Boston entered that matchup on a three-game win streak but their usually reliable 3-point shooting departed them in that contest. The Celtics shot just 9-for-46 from deep against the Thunder. Still, don’t expect the Celtics to take their foot off the gas when it comes to launching those deep shots. Denver’s leaky defense presents an opportunity for the Celtics to recover their shooting touch, as the Nuggets are just 24th in the league with 117.2 points allowed per outing.
As for the Celtics, they are No. 1 in the league with 50.2 3-point attempts per game and tops with 18.4 3-point makes per contest. The Celtics know how to bounce back from a loss, as they have lost consecutive games just once this season. Additionally, they are 7-2-0 against the spread in the 2024-25 NBA regular season in games after a loss.
Home: Denver Nuggets (20-14, 10-6 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- Jamal Murray
- Christian Braun
- Michael Porter Jr.
- Peyton Watson
- Nikola Jokic
After facing the San Antonio Spurs two games in a row, the Nuggets will get to take on a fresh challenger this Wednesday. Denver lost in the first set of the back-to-back against the Spurs (113-110) at home last Saturday before getting back at San Antonio in a 122-111 victory on the road on Sunday. While the results were different in those games, Jokic was the same dominant basketball demigod in both outings, as he averaged 43.5 points, 13.5 boards and 9.5 assists while shooting 47.0 percent from the floor. Jokic can win a game by himself, but he’s going to need help against Boston, especially on defense.
With Aaron Gordon still out with a calf injury, Jokic will need the likes of Michel Porter Jr. and Peyton Watson to step up around him defensively. Obviously, Boston’s outside shooting is a big threat, but winning the rebounding battle can help cut down the Celtics’ chances with the ball. The Nuggets, who are 4-2 against the spread in their last six home games, are sixth in the NBA with 34.4 defensive rebounds per outing.
Picks
Spread: Boston Celtics (-5.5)
Over/Under: Under (235.5)
