After a very committed and disputed first quarter on the offensive level (32-30 for Denver, 25 points from the Jokic – Barton – Gordon trio), the Nuggets created a first gap in the score through a second quarter. defensively successful. At the break, Mike Malone’s men are at +9 (60-51), following having limited the Celtics to 21 points in the 2nd quarter. On the Boston side, the Jay’s duo is the most prominent.
The second half, on the other hand, turns in favor of the residents of the TD Garden. Very clumsy during the third quarter (11/29), the Celtics manage to get back into the game because the Nuggets… are even more clumsy (8/24)! This third act is a real purge and sees Boston pick up at -3 following 36 minutes (79-76).
The two formations exchange baskets during a large part of the 4th quarter and actually shine above all by their clumsiness… Until the “money-time”, better negotiated by the Celtics.
Although Ime Udoka’s troops stammer their basketball in attack (7/20, 1/9 for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown), they manage to rely on their defense, which has been impressive for several weeks, to create a substantial lead ( 104-97) in the last minute. Then in the game of free throws during the last seconds, the locals are doing well, and sign a 7th consecutive success (108-102).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Successful first for Derrick White. Arrived only a few hours ago, on the evening of the “deadline”, the back succeeded in his first game under the green tunic: off the bench, he compiled 15 points (6/12), 6 rebounds and 2 assists. And an iron defense that is not necessarily seen in the stats sheet.
– A purge behind the bow. Boston finished the game 10/37 (27%) behind the 3-point line, Denver 11/44 (25%). Fans of outside shooting certainly did not get off on this meeting, marked overall by a big general clumsiness (39/90 in Denver, 39/98 in Boston). It is for this reason that it is Boston’s defense that allows him to make the difference in “money-time”.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jayson Tatum. Very clumsy (8/19), and ghostly offensively during the last quarter, the All-Star winger nevertheless guided the Celtics during the first three quarters, particularly in the first half with several good shots to keep Boston afloat, but also through high quality defensive efforts. It was a disjointed game from Jayson Tatum, just like his team, but ultimately “all-around” (6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals).
✅ Robert Williams III. The pivot signs a huge double-double: 15 points at 7/12, 16 rebounds, but also 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. If Jayson Tatum was the strongman of the first half, Robert Williams was the boss of the second half, notably providing valuable defensive deterrence at several key moments in the fourth quarter.
✅ Nikola Jokic. The Serb was obviously the engine of his team, and his best player. Despite the defeat, he recorded a consequent triple-double (23 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists). Very, very big negative point of his performance however: the loss of balls, since the “Joker” has… nine!!
⛔️ Jaylen Brown. Rather good in the first half, the back however sank following the break (1/10 on shots in the second half). In difficulty in attack, he managed to compensate for his offensive uselessness with an interesting contribution in other areas: 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. But the whole left something to be desired, and the victory of Boston fortunately mitigates this failure.
THE FOLLOWING
Boston (32-25) : Hawks reception, Sunday night
Denver (30-25) : complicated back-to-back in Toronto
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