NBA Betting Odds - Celtics, Heat to cover as underdog on NBA on TNT

This week’s TNT double-header features Western Conference teams hosting Eastern Conference playoff contenders. The Celtics will try to get their fourth straight win in San Antonio in the early game, while the Nuggets will aim to continue their dominance over the Heat in the late game. Here’s a preview and pick for both contests:

Celtics vs Spurs odds: Spurs -1.5

Online betting fans might get a taste of an NBA Finals matchup here, as the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics meet up on Thursday night. Both teams are on hot streaks as the Celtics have won four straight while the Spurs have have won five in a row.

For the Spurs, it’s been the health of their roster that has helped them right the ship. Manu Ginobili is back in the lineup, which means all of the Spurs All-Stars are back. For the Celtics, it’s been the improved play of Kevin Garnett. Garnett has been on fire over his last three contests, shooting 81% from the field (22-of-27) with 6.3 rebounds per game and three assists per game. The difference in this game is that while the Spurs are hot, they’ve taken advantage of some bad teams in their winning streak. The Spurs’ recent wins have come against Washington, Milwaukee, Golden State, Houston and Philadelphia.

Boston is a step up in competition and that will be evident. The Celtics play well on the road and they won in San Antonio last year. Overall, they have won three straight at the AT&T Center. NBA betting cappers should look for more of the same on Thursday.

Pick: Celtics +1.5

Heat vs Nuggets odds: Nuggets -8.5

The Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets square off on Thursday night in a matchup of two of the best players in the NBA. Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade, two players who were drafted in the Top 5 of the 2003 NBA Draft, are currently first and sixth in NBA scoring respectively. Anthony is the only player in the NBA to score at least 20 points per game this season.

Sportsbook odds makers aren’t giving much of a chance to the Heat, who won the first matchup between the two teams earlier this season. Overall, the Nuggets have dominated the Heat since the 2003 draft and have never lost to them at home since then (6-0). On top of that, Denver has won 12 of the last 15 meetings and hasn’t been swept in a season series by the Heat since 2001-02.

While the Nuggets do own this series, it’s still too many points to lay in this contest. The line is inflated because the Nuggets blew out the Warriors in their last home contest (135-107), but prior to that, they lost at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves and squeaked by with a three-point win over the New York Knicks.

The Heat are a capable road team, having won their last two away from home at Orlando and at Portland. They’ll keep it close at the Pepsi Center tonight.

Pick: Heat +8.5

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