If clutch time is meant to be a consistent barometer of the Celtics’ title hopes, they played the role of a champion Thursday night against the NBA’s best clutch defense.
Despite this, the defending champions prevailed.
Nikola Jokic found Aaron Gordon for an alley-oop with 19.8 seconds left — and at the end of the shot clock — to give Denver a 113-109 lead, and the Nuggets held off a late rally for a 115-109 victory over the NBA’s top team.
Down two in the last minute, a Jamal Murray error set up a Boston transition opportunity, but Jayson Tatum missed an open corner three for the lead.
Jokic recorded 32 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals. He made 11 of 18 shots after only taking one in the first ten minutes of the game. He turned it over only once. He returned in the fourth quarter after sitting on the bench for several minutes with his right arm wrapped after a third-quarter foul by Kristaps Porzingis. He collected a disputed rebound off Tatum’s late miss and found Gordon with the game on the line.
When he banked a buzzer-beating jumper before halftime, Denver’s second attempt in as many minutes, he turned to protest to an official as the Nuggets made their way to the locker room. He had already attempted eight free shots, but wanted more. As he led his colleagues down the tunnel, “M-V-P” chants accompanied him.
Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 42 points, but went 8 for 15 from the foul line. Porzingis tallied 24 points and 11 rebounds.
The Nuggets went into the game assuming that if they could limit Boston’s inevitably high-volume 3-point shooting system to 35% or lower, they’d be able to complete the regular season sweep. In Boston two months ago, the Celtics went 14 for 44 (32%). Anything in the same ballpark would be successful.
The first half outperformed expectations. While the Celtics forced Denver to stay within the arc by preventing clear 3-pointers, they attempted twice as many (16) but shot only 25%. Tatum was limited to eight points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope remained to be a strong primary opponent. Then, twice in a row, during a Joe Mazzulla timeout in the second quarter, Tatum went after a Murray switch at the left elbow. Jokic stepped in and picked Tatum’s pocket on his first attempt before he could locate an open shooter. Tatum then attempted to post Murray, who resisted and received a hit to the face. Two consecutive turnovers.
Brown and Murray traded baskets over an exciting stretch of second-unit minutes for both teams. Even with Jokic out, Boston maintained a double-big lineup of Xavier Tillman and Al Horford. Denver’s smaller, younger roster held its own, with strong performances from Zeke Nnaji at five, Peyton Watson at four, and Christian Braun on the wing. Justin Holiday, who returned to the rotation after recent strong performances, guarded his brother Jrue on a few possessions. Denver maintained the advantage when Jokic sat.
