Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets Prediction NBA Picks 10/4/24

The Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets meet Friday in NBA preseason action at the Etihad Arena. Here’s a Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets Prediction. This article will include a Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets Pick.

Boston Celtics Betting Preview

The Boston Celtics are coming off an NBA title and enter the third year under coach Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics are nearly the exact same team that just won the championship outside of adding Lonnie Walker IV and Baylor Scheierman, and losing Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk.

Even with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined due to injury, the Celtics have arguably the best starting five in the league with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. Guys like Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser have proven to be valuable off the bench. Things won’t be easy for the Celtics with a target now on their back and other teams being healthier, but Boston remains the team to beat in the NBA.

Denver Nuggets Betting Preview

The Denver Nuggets followed up their NBA title with 57 wins and a trip to the conference semifinals. Entering the 10th season under coach Michael Malone, the Nuggets remain one of the teams that’s a threat to the Celtics repeat.

The Nuggets lose Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Reggie Jackson and Justin Holiday, and they replace them with Russell Westbrook, Dario Saric and DaRon Holmes II. Westbrook has a chance to be a difference maker for the Nuggets, but Denver will continue to go as far as Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic take them. A healthy, consistent season of Michael Porter Jr. would go a long way as well. The Nuggets do have depth issues, but it would be insane to write this team off.

Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets Prediction

With this being a rare game in Abu Dhabi, I’d expect the stars to see some minutes and not sit out like a lot of guys do during the preseason. The Boston Celtics will be favored for obvious reasons, but the value is with the Nuggets and the free bucket. The Nuggets are too good to turn down in the underdog role, and you won’t get these chances often, preseason or not. The Nuggets have also won the last 3 games against the Celtics, for whatever that is worth. First preseason game, so anything can happen, but I want my free bucket in a battle between two title contenders.