BSJ Game Report: Nuggets 115, Celtics 109 - Nikola Jokic triple-double spoils Celtics comeback attempt

Everything you need to know about the Celtics loss to the Nuggets, with BSJ insight and analysis

IN A NUTSHELL

The Celtics got balanced scoring and put up 28 points in the first, but they were burned by a few defensive mistakes and a Jamal Murray buzzer-beater gave the Nuggets a two-point lead. Jaylen Brown went off in the second to keep Boston close, but turnovers and misses helped Denver close on an 11-4 run. The Celtics cut into that eight-point halftime lead, but Denver still had answers throughout the second half. Boston nearly came all the way back, but missed shots that could have tied or taken a lead while the Nuggets finished the job on the other end. Nikola Jokic finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Boston has lost two in a row for only the second time this season. 

Box Score 

HEADLINES

- Missing Margins: Celtics lost the free throw line by five despite taking three more shots. They lost the points off turnovers by 10. A normal 81% night from the line adds four points to the total, which cuts this down to two. And then taking care of the ball could have swung at least a few possessions. So a win was right there for the Celtics, but they needed to be cleaner with the controllables.

- Denver execution: The Nuggets know exactly who they are and do what they do very well. You know the Jokic/Murray two-man game is coming but you can’t stop it. You know Aaron Gordon is hanging around the baseline but he still breaks free. Jokic doesn’t even have to really look at where his teammates are. He just has to recognize what the defense is doing and he can throw it to spots where his teammates should be, because they will almost always be there. 

- Jaylen’s big night: A monster game for Brown, who dropped 41 points and 14 rebounds, but he was 7-14 from the line, meaning he alone could have accounted for enough points to win the game. 

- Tatum’s no-show: The Celtics need more than 15 points from him in a game like this. They definitely need him to not turn the ball over five times. Four of them were live-ball turnovers, which gave Denver chances to score. Worse, though, was how often he got lost defensively. 

TURNING POINT

I’m going back to the third quarter. Boston had tied the game at 66 at the eight minute mark, but Denver answered with an 8-2 run. And then Denver finished the quarter answering every shot Boston made over the final two minutes. Brown and Sam Hauser combined for seven points on three consecutive possessions but Denver answered them all plus one take what ended up being an insurmountable 10 point lead.

THINGS I LIKED

- Late game execution: The Celtics went from down 10 with 5:13 to a wide-open Tatum corner 3-point attempt that could have given Boston the lead with :45 left. They didn’t quit. 

- Jaylen Brown (non-free throw edition): He made tough shots all night. He was the catalyst who carried the Celtics all night long. 

- Jrue Holiday’s recovery: He was having a rough night until he hit two massive 3-pointers to give Boston a chance. He kept his confidence, which was impressive on a night it would be easy to lose it. 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

- Jayson Tatum: Between the end of the Cavs game and how he played in this one, I’d say his MVP push is dead. That corner 3-pointer to take the lead would have resuscitated it, but missing that one felt appropriate for the night he was having. 

- Bench vs. bench: The Celtics bench got outscored by 18 points. Peyton Watson had some killer possessions for Denver. 

- Derrick White: He’s had a couple of tough ones in a row now. He obviously has his moments, but he was 0-4 from 3 in this one. 

- Live ball turnovers: I don’t know what what they were thinking with some of the passes they were trying to make. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Jaylen Brown is RELENTLESS on the glass 💪😤 pic.twitter.com/tIkmKtZO8l

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 8, 2024

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- Nikola Jokic is what an MVP looks like.

What a force of nature he is. Boston tried everything to stop him and they couldn't. He made every play they needed him to make. He’s inevitable. He’s the unquestioned center of everything Denver does. 

Forget for a second that Tatum had a bad game. That happens. But this game shows you the gap between first-team All-NBA good and MVP good. Tatum has great games, but Jokic controls games. 

- No, this doesn’t mean Boston is doomed if they meet in the Finals (but I get why people might think that).

I understand the feeling of Denver having Boston’s number, having beaten the Celtics twice this season. But this isn’t the end of the world. 

“The margin of who wins or who loses is so small … it could have went our way and it would have been completely different,” Porzingis said after the game. “I like that we have this loss in the regular season. It stings, and it has to sting.”

A little more composure earlier in the game, a little better execution instead of the poor passing, and a few more good shots going down changes the outcome of this game. Still, Denver was very responsible for a lot of the mistakes Boston made. 

The Celtics need to be challenged right now, so I’m happy they're getting it sooner rather than later. It’s obvious that they still have a lot to improve, so being reminded of that at this point of the season is the kind of adversity they could use. 

Next up: Boston goes to Phoenix for a Saturday night ABC game