In what could be a potential preview of the 2025 NBA Finals, the struggling Boston Celtics take on the Denver Nuggets for the first time this season on Tuesday night at Ball Arena.
Here's a spread, moneyline, total, and player prop expert pick for this highly-anticipated matchup on January 7, 2025.
Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Odds
Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET
| Team | Spread | Money | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | -6 (-110) | -245 | O 235.5 (-112) |
| Denver Nuggets | +6 (-110) | +200 | U 235.5 (-108) |
Odds as of January 7, 2025 at FanDuel
Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets Expert Picks
Denver Nuggets +6 (-110)
It's not very often that the Celtics appear vulnerable, but as we've seen over the last 10 games, if there was ever a time to play the reigning champions, it's right now. Boston has split those outings at 5-5 SU, and while the team's offense (3rd) and defense (7th) has held strong during that stretch, the team's 3-point shooting which it relies so heavily on has been anything but at just 35.1 percent.
Denver has gone 4-1 both SU and in covering the spread over its last five games, holding the opposition to just 35.5 percent shooting from behind the arc. That doesn't bode well for the Celtics if they're looking to get out of this funk, and considering they were just thoroughly humbled by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in a 13-point loss with just 27 points in the second half, morale has to be low at the moment.
Boston has also dropped three straight games to the Nuggets, including two in the Mile High City by an average margin of nine points. This is also just the third time in 2024-25 that Denver is a betting underdog at home, going 1-1 SU and ATS versus the Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The six-point spread is a generous one by oddsmakers, even with Aaron Gordon ruled out of action with a calf injury. Considering the Celtics have only covered in three of their last nine games away from TD Garden, have confidence in the Nuggets to keep the scoreboard close and possibly even steal this game on the moneyline, as well.
UNDER 235.5 Total Points (-108)
Boston has reached an OVER just once in its last seven road appearances, and the poor percentages from deep and high combined scoring total of 235.5 points with shorter odds makes the UNDER the more enticing play.
It also helps to know that the Celtics and Nuggets have gone UNDER this number in their last three games against each other.
Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets Player Prop
Russell Westbrook OVER 5.5 Rebounds (+100)
Having hit the OVER on 5.5 rebounds in four of his last five games and five of his last seven, with a pair of double-digit board totals sprinkled within, having Russell Westbrook's prop at plus money feels like a steal.
Boston also allows the eighth-most rebounds to opposing point guards (6.56), and with Gordon missing his seventh-straight game, Westbrook's minutes and opportunities to attack the glass should be plentiful.
Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets Betting Trends
- Derrick White has exceeded 19.5 points and rebounds in four of his last five games (22 points and rebounds/game average).
- Kristaps Porzingis has exceeded 24.5 points and rebounds in four of his last five games vs. bottom-10 defenses for points allowed (25.2 points and rebounds/game average).
- Russell Westbrook has exceeded 0.5 3-pointers in eight of his last 10 games (0.9 3-pointers/game average).
*all betting trends courtesy of Outlier
