The Boston Celtics’ title protection started with a 107-103 win as they confronted off in opposition to the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi.
Payton Pritchard led the way in which for the Celtics with 21 factors and 6 assists, capturing 6-12 from three. Jayson Tatum had 12, main all the starters after solely taking part in the primary half. Nikola Jokic completed with 14 factors and eight rebounds however it wasn’t sufficient as Boston was in a position to pull out a win on this back-and-forth sport. Al Horford didn’t play, so Luke Kornet received the beginning for the Celtics.
1st Quarter
Each groups struggled out of the gate early because the Celtics started the sport capturing 2-7 from the sector and 0-5 from three. The Nuggets weren’t an entire higher on this regard however had been in a position to take an early 13-6 lead midway by means of the first quarter.
Jayson Tatum’s new bounce shot was a subject of dialog throughout coaching camp and it regarded fluid as he would hit a 3 and a Derrick White layup would assist the Celtics discover their groove on offense with a 10-2 run to guide 21-20 on the 3:50 mark. Jaylen Brown would begin to get going with a run that included a troublesome fadeaway, a blocked shot, and a thunderous dunk.
Derrick White would lead the Celtics in scoring with 9 factors within the 1st quarter as apart from Luke Kornet, Boston’s beginning lineup would play all the quarter. Michael Porter Jr would lead the Nuggets with 10 factors and Denver would end on a 12-4 run to guide 32-25. Boston continued to wrestle capturing, ending 10-28 from the sector and 3-14 from three.
2nd Quarter
The Celtics bench would open up the 2nd quarter with Jaden Springer and Jordan Walsh getting a shot to play early within the sport. Boston would have a run the place they’d miss three straight threes, grabbing each offensive rebound, resulting in a fourth offensive rebound by Walsh that will result in free throws.
Preseason P was within the constructing as Payton Pritchard was sizzling on this quarter dropping 14 factors off the bench capturing 4-8 from three. Denver would seemingly have a solution for the whole lot the Celtics threw at them as even with an 11-2 run by Boston, the Nuggets would reply and take a 63-56 lead into halftime and Nikola Jokic was in a position to do something he wished within the first half.
The Celtics capturing was nonetheless nonetheless a difficulty ending the half 19-55 (34.5%) from the sector and 10-35 (28.6%) from three. Pritchard led the Celtics in scoring, however Jayson Tatum would have 12 factors, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and hit 3 three pointers, hinting that his three ball may be again.
Solely the preseason, however Celtics had 10 3’s and 11 offensive rebs in 1st half. Final 12 months, that they had solely two first halves with not less than 10 treys and 10 offensive boards (Dec. 20 vs. Kings, Mar. 18 vs. Detroit)
— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) October 4, 2024
third Quarter
With the starters for each groups accomplished for the day, the bench squad began the 2nd half together with Neemias Queta’s first minutes. The Nuggets continued to function, together with a 2010’s throwback with a Russell Westbrook help to a DeAndre Jordan dunk, however the Celtics offense continued to wrestle.
One thing attention-grabbing to notice was Jordan Walsh was bringing the ball up the court docket rather a lot and general regarded much more snug than he did in Summer time League. Sam Hauser was displaying off some defensive depth as he would take a cost and hit a 3 on the opposite finish. Pritchard would hit his fifth three of the sport with 3:48 to go and the bench unit actually began to discover a groove collectively. Luke Kornet regarded actually good on each ends right this moment because the workforce regarded rather a lot higher with him on the ground.
Payton Pritchard continued to placed on a present, doing what he does greatest hitting a final second three on the buzzer, his sixth three of the sport. On the finish of the third, the Celtics closed the sport occurring a 12-2 run and chopping Denver’s lead all the way down to 80-79.
4th Quarter
The Maine Celtics began the 4th quarter as JD Davison, Drew Peterson, and Baylor Scheierman would test in with Walsh and Queta. Each groups would travel to start out the quarter highlighted by an enormous putback dunk by Jordan Walsh.
Drew Peterson would hit a troublesome a floater within the lane, Neemias Queta would hit a hook shot, and Jordan Walsh would hit a 3 to provide Boston a 5 level lead. Lonnie Walker and Anton Watson would test in on the 4:16 mark of the 4th quarter and Boston would proceed to roll.
Drew Peterson discovered his capturing stroke hitting again to again threes and JD Davison did hid greatest Jaylen Brown impression with a block on one finish and a lob to Dmytro Skapintsev. With below a minute to go Trey Alexander would strip Peterson resulting in a Jahmir Younger layup with 13.5 seconds left. The Nuggets would then foul Davison who hit two free throws and Younger would hit 1 free throw and deliberately miss the 2nd however the Celtics would retain possession. Davision hit two extra free throws to seal the 107-103 win for the Celtics.
The Celtics will keep in Abu Dhabi for his or her subsequent preseason sport on Sunday morning October sixth at 10am et.
