BOSTON — The Boston Celtics managed to secure a victory on Sunday, defeating the Denver Nuggets 110-103 after nearly surrendering a substantial 20-point lead from the first half. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with a strong performance, scoring 22 points. In the closing minutes, it was Derrick White who delivered a crucial floater from the foul line, ensuring Boston stayed ahead.
Jayson Tatum also contributed significantly, notching 16 points paired with 11 rebounds, while White added 17 points to the scoreboard for Boston. Importantly, Boston has managed to avoid a three-game losing streak throughout the season thus far.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic shone with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists. Jamal Murray was a standout in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 of his 26 points during that period. Christian Braun made his presence felt by contributing 24 points. However, Denver has been on a slight downturn, losing three out of their last five games.
The Celtics seemed to repeat a familiar pattern, as they had recently allowed a 22-point lead to slip away against the top-tier Cleveland Cavaliers, resulting in a loss. Once again, against Denver, Boston saw their significant 20-point lead dwindle. Late in the third quarter, the Nuggets started to close the gap, scoring 10 consecutive points to shrink Boston’s lead from 15 points to just five.
Observations revealed concerns for both teams. Jokic was noted to be limping at the start, which could pose challenges for the Nuggets in their upcoming games. Meanwhile, the Celtics have shown a tendency to ease up when holding large leads.
A critical moment unfolded as Murray’s three-pointer brought the Nuggets within five points with approximately three minutes remaining. Boston then faced some struggles, missing three attempts and committing a turnover before Murray capitalized, narrowing Boston’s lead to 102-99. However, the Celtics regained their composure as Brown made a drive, and White capitalized on the rebound with a basket that restored their advantage. Murray’s subsequent turnover set up Al Horford for a fast-break finish.
Statistically, Tatum had a challenging night shooting-wise, hitting only 4 of his 15 attempts and struggling from behind the arc with just 1 out of 7 successful shots.
Both teams will take a breather and return to action on Wednesday. The Celtics are set to host Portland, while the Nuggets will face Sacramento at home.
