Denver (46-22) at Boston (43-27)
When: Monday, March 18th, 2019
Where: TD Garden,
Boston, MA
Time: 7:35 ET | TV: Altitude, NBCS Boston
Opening Odds: Boston -3.5/222.5
The Denver Nuggets have feasted on opponents at home all season with a 30-6 mark, but they’ll need to buckle-down on the road in the final few weeks of the regular season if they want to catch the Golden State Warriors in the West. Denver will begin a four-game road trip at the suddenly surging Boston Celtics on Monday and are within one game of Golden State for the Western Conference’s top seed. Nikola Jokic drained a last-second game winner in a 100-99 victory over Dallas on Thursday, then Denver needed another late shot from Paul Millsap to beat the Indiana Pacers 102-100 on Saturday. Denver is just 16-16 away from home including a 13-19 mark against the spread and have dropped five of their last seven road games overall. Boston is battling Philadelphia and Indiana for the No. 3 and 4 spots, but currently sit fifth despite winning five of their last six games. The Celtics are coming off a 129-120 win over lowly Atlanta on Saturday thanks to Kyrie Irving’s monster game. The Nuggets took the first meeting in Denver 115-107 back on November 5th after Boston swept last year’s season series.
In order to catch Golden State, Denver is going to have to improve its road play and will have to do that in nine of their final 14 games including tough trips to the Warriors, Houston, Oklahoma City, Portland and Utah. Jokic ended Saturday’s game with 26 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, but was ejected in the fourth quarter for arguing with the referees. Shooting guard Jamal Murray is averaging 18.3 points a game, but went off for 48 in the first meeting with Boston in November. The Nuggets will get two days off before playing the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
Irving just missed back-to-back triple-doubles on Saturday after recording 31 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds versus Sacramento on Thursday, ending the Atlanta game one assist shy. Shooting guard Jaylen Brown came off the bench to score 23 points against the Hawks to record his third straight 20+ performance and has drained 9-of-14 from beyond the arc in that stretch. Boston has a huge game at Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Boston seems to have put things together lately behind Irving and will get a Denver team that has really been struggling on the road. The home team is 18-8-1 ATS in the last 27 meetings and the Celtics are only laying a few points here.
Pick: Celtics -3
Nuggets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Nuggets are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 road games.
Nuggets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Nuggets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
Nuggets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
Celtics are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 vs. NBA Northwest.
Celtics are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Celtics are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Celtics are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 vs. Western Conference.
Celtics are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.
Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Monday games.
Celtics are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Celtics are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Nuggets last 5 road games.
Under is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-0 in Nuggets last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 7-0 in Nuggets last 7 games following a straight up win.
Under is 6-0 in Nuggets last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 10-1 in Nuggets last 11 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-1 in Nuggets last 10 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-1 in Nuggets last 10 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Nuggets last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 5-1 in Nuggets last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 20-7-1 in Nuggets last 28 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Over is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 overall.
Under is 6-0 in Celtics last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 4-0 in Celtics last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Celtics last 5 Monday games.
Under is 5-2 in Celtics last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 7-3 in Celtics last 10 home games.
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Boston.
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Nuggets are 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Home team is 18-8-1 ATS in the last 27 meetings.
Nuggets are 4-11-1 ATS in the last 16 meetings in Boston.
Underdog is 3-1-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
