Celtics Vs Nuggets: Nuggets snap five-game streak in 19-point win
The Celtics vs Nuggets matchup ended Wednesday night with Denver handing Boston a 19-point loss that snapped the Celtics’ five-game winning streak. The loss closed Boston’s four-game West Coast road trip and came in the second night of a back-to-back, with the Celtics returning to Boston for the first time since before the All-Star break.
Celtics Vs Nuggets Second Half
Boston was up at halftime in a closely contested game but failed to score at least 20 points in either the third or fourth quarter, allowing Denver to separate in the second half. Whether fatigue from the long trip or a flat performance was to blame, Boston never had a chance in the final two quarters and ultimately fell by 19 points.
Nikola Jokic’s 30-12-6 Night
Three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic put up 30 points while adding 12 rebounds and 6 assists, a performance that paved the way for Denver to get back into the win column. The Nuggets continued their dominance over Boston this season, completing a sweep of the season series against the Celtics.
Bench Battle and Bad Shooting
Boston received very little from its bench despite Jaylen Brown returning to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s matchup against the Suns. Denver’s second unit outscored the Celtics bench 42 to 17. Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic combined for 5 total points; Pritchard shot 1-6 and Vucevic was 1-7. As a team, Boston shot 35% from the field and 28% from three-point range, with the poor shooting especially evident in the second half.
Road Trip Ends, Back-to-Back
Wednesday night marked the end of Boston’s four-game West Coast road trip and it came in the second night of a back-to-back schedule. The Celtics’ success out of the All-Star break was halted even as Denver played on after losing Jamal Murray to injury earlier in the game.
Next: Return to Boston
Boston will return home for the first time since before the All-Star break and faces a chance for a bounce-back. The Celtics will take on a Nets team that is 15-42 on the season, and they will have an opportunity to close out the series against Brooklyn with 3 out of 4 wins. Brooklyn’s first visit to Boston came in November, when the Celtics dropped to the Nets during the NBA Cup in-season tournament. The last time Boston and Brooklyn met, Boston pulled off a victory in double overtime. After the long West Coast trip, the Celtics will need to steady themselves before that upcoming stretch.
One moment in Denver’s run came when KJ Simpson sparked an 11-0 run for the Nuggets, a sequence that helped put the game out of reach. Overall, the loss leaves Boston having their five-game winning streak snapped while Denver collected a decisive victory led by Jokic’s 30-12-6 performance.
