Denver at Boston 3/24/10

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The Boston Celtics host the struggling Denver Nuggets tonight in NBA action

Denver Nuggets at Boston Celtics
NBA Basketball: Wednesday March 24, 2010 07:00 PM EST
The Line: Boston -5

The Denver Nuggets look to bounce back tonight when they travel to Boston to take on the improving Celtics. After getting back on track with five straight wins the (45-25, 29-39-2 ATS) Celtics had their winning streak snapped in their last of a three game Western swing, as they couldn’t keep up with the fast paced Utah Jazz, eventually losing 97-110. The (47-24, 31-35-5 ATS) Nuggets on the other hand find themselves in a mini form slump as they have dropped two straight and three in their five overall, with the most recent loss coming last night against the New York Knicks 105-114, in front of a packed house at Madison Square Garden.

Head to head, the Nuggets have won and covered in six of the last ten meetings between the two, which includes a 114-105 win in Denver in the first meeting of the season. However, the Nuggets are just 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Boston. The home team is also 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings while the favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

- Nuggets are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Nuggets are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Nuggets are 35-17-1 ATS in their last 53 games as a road underdog of 0.5-4.5.
- Nuggets are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 vs. NBA Atlantic.
- Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite.
- Celtics are 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 vs. Western Conference.
- Celtics are 18-38-1 ATS in their last 57 home games.

Even though the Celtics are one of the leagues worst teams at covering the number, they have been very good lately as they are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 overall, while the Nuggets have gone in the other direction as they have lost five straight against the spread.

Considering the Nuggets have been struggling in the last two weeks and they played just last night, the Celtics should be the play for tonight right? I'm not so sure however. Most of the trends for this game also piont towards Boston, although you can put a spin on it however you like because the fact remains that the Celtics have been the worst team against the spread at home as they are 10-22-1 ATS on the season, not only that but they have been veru poor for a while now going 18-38-1 ATS in their last 57 home games. Throwing all of the stats out of the window for this game, we should see a hard fought battle between two of the better teams in the league fighting for playoff seeding. Take the points tonight ….

Dan’s Pick: Denver +5