BOSTON (AP) — Grant Williams dubbed himself “Batman” after he helped the Boston Celtics neutralize Nuggets star Nikola “Joker” Jokic throughout a win in Denver late final season.
The Celtics relied on their offense to maintain the reigning back-to-back MVP from getting his revenge. Jayson Tatum had 34 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists and Boston prolonged its season-best win streak to 5 video games by beating Denver 131-112 on Friday evening.
It was Tatum’s third straight sport with at the least 30 factors and seventh time with 30-plus this season. Boston had simply seven turnovers and shot 57% from the sphere with 16 3-pointers. Jaylen Brown had 25 factors, eight rebounds and eight assists.
“It is simply a whole lot of enjoyable proper now on the offensive finish,” mentioned Al Horford, who had six 3-pointers and completed 21 factors and 7 rebounds. “Guys are actually aware of understanding of what coach needs and what he expects. He needs good spacing and we’re doing a very good job of attending to these positions.
“It is enjoyable to see when it comes collectively like that.”
Interim coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned he likes the belief on the ground he sees between his gamers.
“Our guys are purchased into making one another higher, whether or not they have the ball or not,” Mazzulla mentioned.
The loss snapped the Nuggets’ four-game win streak.
Jokic had 29 factors and and eight rebounds however struggled with early foul bother. Aaron Gordon added 17 factors and eight rebounds.
The Nuggets stayed shut regardless of its bench enjoying shorthanded after Bones Hyland was positioned within the well being and security protocols previous to tipoff. Bruce Brown was the most efficient, enjoying 37 minutes and ending with 16 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists
Denver trailed 77-70 when Jokic went to the bench after his fourth foul with about seven minutes left within the third quarter.
The Nuggets stored chipping away with out him, finally chopping what had been an 18-point, first-half deficit to 87-85.
Jokic returned firstly of the fourth, but it surely didn’t cease Boston from rising its result in 111-95.
Issues obtained a bit chippy within the closing minutes.
Gordon was referred to as for a Flagrant 1 foul after he scored on a dunk, then was deemed to have made a hostile act by working over Williams.
It did little to stifle the Celtics’ momentum.
Boston went on an 11-3 run after that, extending its result in 127-109.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Coach Mike Malone received a problem on what was initially referred to as an offensive foul on Jokic with 9:37 left within the sport. It was modified to a blocking foul on Boston’s Marcus Sensible. It could have been Jokic’s fifth foul. … Ish Smith (calf) sat for the fifth straight sport. … Closed the primary half on a 17-6 run.
Celtics: Boston led 102-93 within the fourth when Michael Porter Jr. was referred to as for a flagrant foul after he stepped into Tatum’s touchdown space on a 3-point try. Tatum got here down on Porter’s foot and grabbed at his left ankle however was capable of stay within the sport. … Malcolm Brogdon sat out and is everyday with proper hamstring tightness. … Took a 66-57 lead into halftime. … Led 33-25 on the finish of the primary, capturing 61% from the sphere with no turnovers.
STICK WITH IT
Boston’s Payton Pritchard had the hustle play of the game within the second quarter.
The Celtics missed struggle straight photographs on a single possession earlier than the ball was corralled by Denver’s DeAndre Jordan.
However simply as he turned to push the ball up the courtroom Pritchard — who had rebounded two of Boston’s earlier misses — snuck in from behind, ripped it away and dropped in a layup to conclude the wild collection. The hassle despatched the Celtics bench right into a frenzy and prompted a Nuggets timeout.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: At Chicago on Sunday.
Celtics: At Detroit on Saturday.
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