Feb 28, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Denver Nuggets middle Nikola Jokic (15) will get able to drive to the basket towards the Detroit Pistons within the first quarter at Little Caesars Area. Necessary Credit score: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Photographs The Boston Celtics might be seeking to keep away from their first three-game dropping streak of the season Sunday afternoon after they tackle the visiting Denver Nuggets.
After dropping 117-97 on the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, the Celtics dropped a 123-116 resolution to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday within the opener of a seven-game homestand.
Celtics starters Kristaps Porzingis (sickness) and Jrue Vacation (hand) did not play within the loss to the Cavaliers.
“It was positively an intense recreation, an important environment,” Boston’s Jaylen Brown stated. “You may inform they needed to beat us and we got here out swinging. And we had sufficient. We had sufficient to win the sport, regardless of whoever was sitting out, no matter, we should always have received this recreation. A pair possessions that we will enhance on and make smarter selections.
“There are just a few performs I want I may have again, however for probably the most half we have been aggressive they usually hit photographs, so I give them credit score.”
Jayson Tatum tossed in a season-high 46 factors and had 16 rebounds in the course of the loss, which dropped Boston’s dwelling document to 18-11. Tatum and Brown (37 factors) scored all however 33 of Boston’s factors.
“There are issues that we each most likely may have achieved to place the crew in a greater place,” Tatum stated. “However you be taught from it and prepare for Sunday. It must be one other enjoyable one.”
Boston additionally misplaced back-to-back video games in late December however prevented a 3rd straight setback by incomes a 142-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Sunday’s matchup options the final two NBA champions, and two of the NBA’s high scorers in Tatum (27.0 factors per recreation) and Denver’s Nikola Jokic (29.1). Like Tatum, Jokic put up huge numbers Friday evening, when he had 23 factors, 17 rebounds and 15 assists to assist Denver finish Detroit’s eight-game successful streak with a 134-119 resolution. It was Jokic’s twenty eighth triple-double this season.
“Nikola … one other large triple-double, impacting the sport throughout the board,” Denver coach Michael Malone stated.
Aaron Gordon did not play within the victory over Detroit due to a left ankle sprain. Malone stated Gordon’s standing for Sunday’s recreation is unclear.
“I believe he had a second (Thursday) evening (in Milwaukee),” Malone stated. “Give him a variety of credit score for preventing by way of and getting by way of that recreation, however he positively wasn’t transferring the best way we have turn out to be accustomed to seeing him transfer. So I believe he will need to have rolled it.”
Gordon (calf) and Jokic (sickness) have been each out of the lineup when Boston beat Denver 118-106 on the street Jan. 7. Tatum led all scorers with 29 factors within the win, and Porzingis completed with 25 factors and 11 rebounds. Russell Westbrook scored a team-high 26 factors for the Nuggets.
That recreation was tied 93-93 earlier than Boston used a 15-0 run to tug away.
This would be the ultimate cease on a four-game street journey for Denver, which has received 11 of its final 13 video games. The Nuggets are 2-1 on the journey so far.
“We now have one recreation left on this street journey — a really difficult recreation,” Malone stated. “Hopefully we will discover a approach to enter Boston, compete and provides ourselves an opportunity.”
–Discipline Degree Media
