Yesterday’s NBA trade deadline did not disappoint. The 76ers landed James Harden and Paul Millsap for Ben Simmons, Andre Drummond, Seth Curry and two first-round picks in a blockbuster trade with the Nets. The standoff between Simmons and the Sixers is finally over, and now all eyes are on Simmons to see if his production is worth all the drama and hype that has surrounded him this season. The dynamic and chemistry between Harden and Joel Embiid will be another interesting piece to keep an eye on. Given all the transactions that have happened this week, be sure to check out the active rosters for each matchup as there will be several key players sitting out as they transition over to their new teams. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets, some of my favorite NBA picks today and overall basketball betting tips for Friday, Feb. 11.
NBA Best Bets: Game Tips & Expert Betting Predictions
Nuggets vs. Celtics Best Bet
Jayson Tatum and the Celtics face off against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in Boston on Friday night. The Celtics have been on fire as of late, winning six straight games and holding opponents to under 100 points in five of those six. Denver will be in their first game of a back-to-back for a quick road trip to Boston and Toronto over the weekend. The Celtics have won three straight in the series matchup, and tonight will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.
The Nuggets enter this game with a record of 30-24 so far this year. Denver remained quiet on Thursday prior to the trade deadline. It was surprising to see them not make any moves given they are in the race for a playoff spot and banged up with injures. Monte Morris entered concussion protocol and is out on Friday. Expect Bryn Forbes and Austin Rivers (probable) to pick up extra minutes in Morris’ absence. The Nuggets are averaging 109.7 points per contest (14th in the league) while shooting 47.4% from the field (third). Denver ranks first in offensive efficiency over the last 10 games, averaging 118.3 points per game. As a team the Nuggets are grabbing 51 rebounds per game (fourth fewest) and allowing opponents to collect the fewest rebounds in the league (49.6).
With Forbes and Rivers likely getting a bump in minutes, it might be worth checking out their NBA player prop bets today by heading over to OddsShopper to see where they rate out in the expert NBA rankings.
The Celtics were active in the trade market before the deadline. Boston acquired a familiar face in Daniel Theis from the Rockets in exchange for Dennis Schroder, Enes Freedom and Bruno Fernando. In addition, the Celtics picked up Derrick White from the Spurs, sending Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford and their 2022 first-round pick to San Antonio. Bol Bol and P.J. Dozier are also gone in a deal to Orlando, although both players are out for the season. As a result of these moves, Boston will be a little shorthanded Friday night against the Denver Nuggets. The Celtics are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, ranking third in defensive rating and holding teams to 103.8 points per game. Their offense averages 108.4 points per game, which is 18th in the league. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both averaging over 20 points apiece and are accounting for 45.5% percentage of the teams scoring overall.
These two teams rank 23rd and 24th in pace. Boston holds a 23-32-1 over/under record on the season and 12-16 over/under at home. The Celtics have surrendered 94.2 points to opponents over their last nine games, playing terrifically on the defensive side of floor. Denver has failed to score 100 points in each of their last four games against Boston. Over the last five games between these two teams, the total is averaging 202.6 combined points. Neither team gets to the free-throw line often, with both teams ranking bottom 10. Expect Boston to come forward with another solid defensive performance and help hold this game under the total on Friday.
Best NBA Pick for Today’s Game: Total Under 219 Points
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