THE Boston Celtics Almost blowed up a 20 -point lead for the second consecutive match. But unlike Friday evening when They lost home against Cleveland ridersThe Celtics prevailed over the Denver Nuggets Sunday afternoon, 110-103.
Boston led 32-20 at the end of the first quarter and built an advance of 68-48 at the start of the third, seeming to have exploded the team with the second best record in the West Conference (and the fifth best note in the NBA).
However, the Nuggets reduced the margin to five towards the end of the quarter and closed the scoring at 88-84 with 8:58 to play in the fourth. But Jaylen Brown followed a Sam Hauser sweater with a Bloc on Deandre Jordan. Brown then Four Payton Pritchard for a lay-up and the Celtics opened the head to 94-84.
Denver has reached four points once again with a Nikola Jokić 3 points to make 95-91 halfway from the fourth quarter. Boston started to go away again, but the nuggets made one more push to reduce the deficit to 102-99 on a Jamal Murray Ley-up conducted with 1:15 remaining in regulation.
However, Denver could not get closer to the last minute of play, thanks to Jayson Tatum And Al Horford Each one making two free throws.
Brown finished with 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds to lead Boston. Horford followed with 19 points and eight rebounds, as well as three interceptions which each seemed to arrive at key moments. Tatum caught 11 rebounds and collected seven assists, but pulled 4 out of 15 from the ground for its 16 points.
Jokić seemed to injure himself During the opening council And hooked a little to start the game. But he did not sit for an extended period (even after having suffered A bad scratch on his left arm), finally playing 39 minutes and collecting almost another triple-double with 20 points, 14 points and nine assists.
Murray led Denver with a summit of 26 points, adding seven assists and six rebounds. Christian Braun Followed with 24 points and six boards.
With the loss, the nuggets fell to 39-22 and could be at the head n ° 3 in the West if the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday evening. Denver returns home after a four -game road trip to host the Sacramento Kings (31-28) Wednesday.
Boston’s victory beat a sequence of two consecutive defeats in which They lost by 20 against the pistons of Strait And skipped a 22 -point lead to the riders. They improved at 43-18 and maintain a strong grip on the seed n ° 2 of the East. The Celtics left until Wednesday when they host the Portland Trail Blazers (27-33).
