Friday night at TD Garden, the Celtics will be tasked with one of their most extensive tests yet as they play host to two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the reigning champion Denver Nuggets in what many may consider an NBA Finals preview.
In fact, these two teams are the betting favorites to win the NBA Finals, with the Celtics sitting at +310 and the Nuggets at +425. According to BETMGM, the Nuggets are the most-bet team to take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The Celtics, who are a franchise-record 20-0 at home – and one of just 13 teams in league history to open a season 20-0 at home – have their work cut out as they welcome a 28-14 Nuggets team that sits third in the Western Conference.
Listen below as Meghan Ottolini, Esteban Bustillos, and Justin Turpin discuss the importance of Friday night’s game on the latest episode of Audacy’s “Slammed" Podcast.
January has been a grueling month for The Green. Entering the month, the Celtics faced the third-toughest schedule in the league – with opponents posting a combined .554 winning percentage and four back-to-backs mixed in.
Prior to January, the schedule had already presented the Celtics with different challenges.
During a challenging five-game homestand in mid-December, the Celtics faced off against three strong playoff contenders from the Eastern Conference, all of whom had defeated Boston in the previous year’s season series. Impressively, the Celtics swept all five games during that period.
Additionally, on a West Coast trip during the week of Christmas, the Celtics rebounded from an initial loss to Golden State to finish with a 3-1 record --outscoring their opponents 342-269, showcasing a remarkable +73 point differential.
The Celtics have conquered each challenge on the schedule. January has been no different, posting a 6-3 record, with two losses coming by two or fewer possessions.
Championship fates aren’t determined in January, but it’s a revealing stretch for teams. Friday night is another golden opportunity for the Celtics to exemplify why they proudly declare that things are “Different here.”
Though Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics will likely approach Friday night’s game in their customary fashion – after all, it’s just another January game -- there is a subtle added significance to this one.
These are the defending champions, a team the Celtics could very well see come June 1.
For a team that has aced almost every test thrown their way – en route to an NBA-best 32-9 record in the first half of the regular season – Friday night serves as another one of those tests for the Celtics.
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