Can the Celtics keep the momentum?
The Boston Celtics have played three games since the All-Star break and won all three by double digits.
A West Coast road trip is never easy. There’s the time change, the altitude in Denver, the constant travel and the quick recovery before the next tipoff. However, Boston has made light work of the trip so far. Its final stop is against the Denver Nuggets tonight before returning to the Garden on Friday.
Boston has relied on different contributors in each win. Against the Golden State Warriors, it was Jaylen Brown who posted a triple-double. Against the Los Angeles Lakers, Payton Pritchard did what he does best, providing instant offense off the bench, finishing with 30 points and eight assists. On Tuesday, without Brown and with Pritchard struggling offensively, Boston leaned on strong performances from Ron Harper Jr. and Neemias Queta to secure the win.
Now the Celtics head to Denver for the second night of a back-to-back. The Nuggets are fourth in the Western Conference and are coming off a loss to Golden State. The teams met in Boston in January, when Denver, without Nikola Jokić, stunned the Celtics 114-110.
How will Boston handle Jokić?
To keep it simple, Jokić is the best player in the league. His stats and awards speak for themselves.
He’s a matchup nightmare because of his size, three-level scoring and unreal playmaking for a center. With that said, Boston’s main concern might not be who starts on him, it’s whether the off-ball defenders can stay locked in for the full 24 seconds.
Jokić is going to score. He’s just that good. Queta and Nikola Vučević are expected to spend time on the Serbian star, and staying out of foul trouble will be critical.
What makes Jokić the best in the game is his ability to elevate everyone else. He’s the focal point of Denver’s offense. If Boston can limit his assists and force others to create late in possessions, its chances of winning increase.
The Nuggets don’t stand still offensively. They’re constantly cutting, whether it’s Cam Johnson, Jamal Murray or Christian Braun. Boston’s wings will be tested all night. Derrick White, Brown (if available), Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo González must stay disciplined and avoid taking possessions off. That’s when Denver is at its best, especially with Jokić orchestrating.
Can Boston start strong?
Sometimes the best way to quiet a home crowd is to start fast and drain the building’s energy.
Since the All-Star break, the Celtics have won the first quarter just once — a 36-32 edge over Golden State. They lost the opening quarter to the Phoenix Suns and played even with the Lakers.
On the final game of a West Coast trip, legs can feel heavier than usual. A fast start would go a long way. Denver has shown lapses in effort at times this season. When the Warriors beat the Nuggets 128-117, Denver fell behind 39-27 after one quarter and never fully recovered.
If Boston can build an early cushion, it can manage the game with tired legs instead of scrambling to erase a deficit late.