2024 NBA bets, lines and stats for Friday - ESPN

Friday night's NBA slate features seven games, including a potential NBA Finals preview as the Denver Nuggets visit the Boston Celtics. This is the game I'm looking forward to the most. The Celtics have been on a hot streak, with four wins in their past five games, and boast an impressive 20-game home winning streak. The Nuggets hit a bump in the road with a loss to the 76ers on Tuesday, halting their two-game win streak. Now all eyes are on Nikola Jokic. Can he bounce back after Joel Embiid stole the spotlight?

Let's get into my recommendations for Friday.

Nikola Jokic over 25.5 points. The Nuggets are 7.5-point underdogs on the road against Boston. Jokic should be eager to help his team get a win after losing to the 76ers on Tuesday night. Jokic has scored 25 or more points in four consecutive games and has had great success against Kristaps Porzingis in the past, averaging 30.3 points per game in his past four games against Porzingis.

Joel Embiid over 50.5 points, rebounds and assists. Embiid has surpassed this line in two consecutive games. Orlando ranks fourth in points allowed per 100 possessions, but Embiid is talented enough to deliver another outstanding performance. He has averaged 31.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his past six games against the Magic. Embiid also has a chance to join elite company Friday night. He has scored at least 30 points in 18 consecutive games, tying Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor for the sixth-longest streak in league history.

Grayson Allen over 19.5 points, rebounds and assists. Allen has gone over this number in two straight games. He has carved out a defined role in the Suns' rotation and commands minutes (33.4 MPG) alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.