Denver Nuggets vs Boston Celtics 2/11/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions

Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics Matchup Preview (2/11/22)

Nikola Jokic and company will head to Boston to try and hand the Celtics their second loss in the past ten games. Boston is 8-1 in its past nine games and one of the hottest teams in basketball. The Celtics also made a few fantastic moves before the trade deadline, including the acquisition of guard Derrick White, who is averaging just shy of 15 points, six assists, and four rebounds, despite playing with ballhawk Dejounte Murray! White has the potential to push this Boston team over the proverbial edge towards a deep playoff run, assuming it continues to build on this momentum it has.

The Nuggets are hanging on for dear life in a competitive Western Conference, sitting at sixth place currently. Nikola Jokic is a frontrunner for MVP along with Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who have all separated themselves from the pack at this point. Jokic has, at times, willed his team to wins with a very underwhelming supporting staff. Without Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray, it is a wonder how the Nuggets have been so competitive this season. Anytime you are six games above .500 in a tough Western Conference, that is a massive accomplishment. This game should be close the whole way; however, you can find out who I have securing the win below!

Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics Betting Odds

It’s tough to bet against a team that has won eight of their past nine games and, in addition, just got even better with the addition of guard Derrick White. White has not yet had the opportunity to spread his wings entirely because of how much the Spurs lean on Dejounte Murray. If White proves to be a good fit for the Celtics, this team can finally take that step back towards being a contender in a top-heavy Eastern Conference. For this game, I see it being close, but Boston pulling away towards the end simply because of perimeter talent and defense. Over the past several weeks, the Celtics have been one of the best teams on the defensive end, and we have seen Denver struggle against elite defenses all season. I’ll take the Boston Celtics against the spread for this Friday night matchup!

How To Watch

Date: 2/11/22
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: TD Garden – Boston, MA
Channel: NBA TV

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Denver Nuggets Starting Lineup

PG: Monte Morris
SG: Will Barton
SF: Jeff Green
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokic

Denver Nuggets Analysis

Nikola Jokic has taken this injury-riddled team and made it a legitimate threat in the Western Conference. That is not to discredit the impact of other players at times; however, without Jokic, this team would be far under .500. Jokic has put together an MVP season, and his only competition is likely Joel Embiid out of the Eastern Conference. While the narrative supports Joel Embiid, anything can happen, like how anything can happen when Jokic is on the floor. The most intriguing aspect of this team remains, “What will happen when Jamal Murray returns?” This team has the upside of a Western Conference Finals caliber team, and for now, they need to hold on while Murray continues to rehab and get healthy.

Boston Celtics Starting Lineup

PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Robert Williams III

Boston Celtics Analysis

It’s too early for me to buy in completely to the “new Boston Celtics” that have put together an impressive record over the past month, but I must say I’m impressed with the way they have been playing. In their past nine games, the Celtics have allowed opponents to score merely 92.6 points per game, which is astonishing. Even more unbelievable than that is the shooting percentages that they are holding opponents to 38% from the field and 29% from behind the arc. It is mind-boggling how well they have played on the defensive end, but it does not stop there. Boston has averaged just shy of 114 points per game in that span, on 48% from the field and 36% from three. The C’s have struggled shooting it from deep all season, but recently, they have been able to put it all together. And it is scary.

Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics Daily Fantasy Picks

This year, the “Robin” to Jokic’s “Batman” has undoubtedly been Will Barton when he is healthy. Barton is a pure and natural scorer who has been doing this for several years in the highest league in the world. This season, Barton has averaged nearly 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists but has been even more impressive recently, posting back-to-back 20+ point nights on merely 12 shots in each game. It’s always tempting to go with Nikola Jokic in DFS, but I have to imagine the Celtics defense will swarm him anytime he has the ball. Boston’s defense has been so solid recently, and it is built to force role players to take over. This is the perfect spot for Will Barton to post another 20-5-5 game.

With the way the Boston Celtics have been playing, there is no clear-cut player to plug into your DFS lineup. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have not put up 30+ point nights as frequently as they used to; however, they are winning a lot more. Brown and Tatum’s salary may be a bit too rich for my blood right now, knowing that they are playing slower and the ball has been moving more. Keep an eye on Marcus Smart in this matchup, though. With so much of Denver’s focus falling on Tatum and Brown, Smart should be left open frequently, and therefore, could see a similar outing to his monstrous performance in the C’s last game against the Brooklyn Nets. Smart can be a hit-or-miss player in DFS because his statistics are sporadic and depend on the flow of the game and the opposing defense. Still, this is a solid matchup for Smart, and I would consider sticking him into the lineup.