- The NBA-leading Boston Celtics visit the reigning-champion Denver Nuggets on Thursday night
- The Celtics blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead to the Cavs last time out, ending their 11-game win streak
- See the Celtics vs Nuggets odds, player props, picks and predictions for March 7
The top-two favorites in the NBA title odds square off on Thursday night when the Boston Celtics (48-13, 19-10 away, 30-28-3 ATS) visit the Denver Nuggets (42-20, 24-6 home, 27-33-2 ATS) at Ball Arena at 8:10 pm MT/10:10 pm ET.
Oddsmakers list the Celtics vs Nuggets odds as a pick’em with both teams at -110 on the moneyline.
Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +1.5 (-120) | -110 | Over 220.5 (-105) |
| Denver Nuggets | -1.5 (-100) | -110 | Under 220.5 (-115) |
The Boston vs Denver game total is sitting at 220.5 in Thursday’s NBA odds. Denver has been the single-best under team in the NBA this season at 23-39 O/U. Boston has also hit more unders than overs at 29-32 O/U.
Odds as of March 7 at ESPN Bet. See the latest news on ESPN Bet North Carolina ahead of launch on March 11.
If the NBA playoff bracket was cemented today, the Nuggets would have to take a harder road back to the NBA Finals than last season when they were the #1 seed in the West. Denver is currently #3 behind both Minnesota and OKC, but is only one game behind the conference leaders.
Boston, on the other hand, owns a massive eight-game lead on second-place Milwaukee in the East. The Celtics are also 5.5 games up on the top teams in the West and are all but assured home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Celtics Blow Massive Lead at Cleveland
As great as this season has been for the Celtics, who lead the league in wins (48), point differential (+11.2), Offensive Rating (121.5), and Net Rating (+11.3), last game was one to forget. Boston dominated the first 39 minutes in Cleveland against a Cavs team missing Donovan Mitchell, but then the wheels came off. Boston let a 93-71 lead disappear in the final 8:58, ultimately falling 105-104 to the shorthanded Cavaliers.
Jayson Tatum had a game-high 26 points (on 8-of-21 shooting) and 13 rebounds in the loss. But Boston’s three-point defense disappeared down the stretch. Cleveland hit 20 threes in the game at a 47.6% clip.
Jaylen Brown, who had 21 points and four assists in 37 minutes against Cleveland, has landed on Boston’s injury report with a sacroiliac strain. He is currently listed as questionable to be in Thursday’s NBA lineups.
Nuggets Mount Comeback Against Suns But Lose in OT
Denver suffered a gut-wrenching loss of its own last time out against Phoenix, but in much different fashion. The Nuggets dug themselves a 21-point hole early in the third quarter only to mount a furious comeback and force OT. But the Suns outscored Denver 15-5 in the extra frame to earn a rare 117-107 win at Ball Arena, where the Nuggets are 24-6 on the season.
Jamal Murray had a team-high 28 in the loss on 12-of-25 shooting but, as a team, Denver shot just 42.7% from the field (41-of-96).
The Nuggets are currently tenth in the league in O-Rating (117.2), down from fifth last season, but ninth in D-Rating (113.0), up from 15th last year.
Nikola Jokic is the current betting favorite in the NBA MVP odds, an honor he’s won twice previously, but only has a slim lead on OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
BOS vs DEN Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Gordon (DEN) | 13.5 (Ov -100 | Un -130) | 5.5 (Ov -140 | Un +110) | 2.5 (Ov -140 | Un +110) | 0.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) |
| Jamal Murray (DEN) | 22.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 3.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120) | 6.5 (Ov -100 | Un -130) | 2.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) |
| Jaylen Brown (BOS) | 21.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 4.5 (Ov -160 | Un +124) | 2.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 1.5 (Ov -175 | Un +135) |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (DEN) | 10.5 (Ov -100 | Un -130) | 2.5 (Ov +110 | Un -140) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -135 | Un +105) |
| Michael Porter Jr (DEN) | 16.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 6.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | OFF | 2.5 (Ov -140 | Un +110) |
| Nikola Jokic (DEN) | 24.5 (Ov -145 | Un +114) | 12.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 8.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120) | 1.5 (Ov +135 | Un -175) |
Player props as of March 6 at DraftKings. Claim the DraftKings North Carolina promo.
With Brown’s status up in the air, he’s the only Boston player listed in the NBA player props for Celtics vs Nuggets.
Jokic has a game-high point total of 24.5, which is 1.4 points below his season average (25.9) as he gets set to face Boston’s second-rated defense.
Celtics vs Nuggets Prediction
In a seven-game series with home-court advantage, I would lay significant money on this year’s Celtics team. But this is the only time bettors will see the Nuggets in a pick’em game at home with a fully healthy lineup.
Boston is only 19-10 on the road this season compared to 29-3 at home and now have to play at altitude in the midst of a tough road trip, potentially without Jaylen Brown. Expect a bounce-back game from the Nuggets in this potential NBA Finals preview.
BOS vs DEN pick: Nuggets moneyline (-110) – two units
Sascha Paruk’s 2023-24 NBA betting record:
- 17-21 moneyline (+4.06 units)
- 19-17-2 ATS (+0.41 units)
- 7-12 player props (-6.82 units)
- 0-3 same-game parlay (-3.00 units)
All wagers one unit unless expressly stated otherwise
The Boston Celtics will be facing off against the Denver Nuggets on March 7, and fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exciting matchup. As the two teams prepare to take the court, bettors are also gearing up to place their wagers on various player props, picks, and odds for the game.
One player prop that bettors may want to keep an eye on is the performance of Celtics star Jayson Tatum. Tatum has been a key player for Boston this season, averaging 25.6 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game. Bettors may want to consider placing a wager on Tatum to score over a certain number of points in the game, as he has shown the ability to put up big numbers against tough opponents.
Another player prop to consider is the performance of Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Jokic has been playing at an MVP level this season, averaging 27.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game. Bettors may want to consider placing a wager on Jokic to record a double-double or even a triple-double in the game, as he has proven to be a versatile and dominant force on the court.
In terms of picks for the game, bettors may want to consider taking the Celtics to cover the spread or even win outright. The Celtics have been playing well recently, winning seven of their last ten games, while the Nuggets have been struggling with injuries and inconsistent play. With the Celtics looking to make a push for the playoffs, they may have the edge in this matchup.
As for the odds for the game, sportsbooks currently have the Celtics listed as slight favorites, with odds of -110 to win. The Nuggets are listed as underdogs, with odds of +110 to win. Bettors may want to consider taking advantage of these odds and placing a wager on either team to come out on top.
Overall, the Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets game on March 7 promises to be an exciting and competitive matchup. With a number of player props, picks, and odds to consider, bettors will have plenty of opportunities to get in on the action and potentially cash in on this highly anticipated game.