Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (15) is defended by Boston Celtics’ Al Horford throughout the first half of an NBA basketball sport Friday, Jan 19, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photograph/Michael Dwyer)
BOSTON — The Denver Nuggets felt they let a winnable sport slip away within the closing minutes throughout a slender loss at Philadelphia earlier this week.
They discovered themselves in an identical scenario late towards one of many NBA’s prime groups and made positive to not let it occur once more.
Jamal Murray scored 35 factors, Nikola Jokic completed with 34 and Denver held on handy the Boston Celtics their first residence lack of the season, 102-100 on Friday night time.
“Each groups had been countering one another,” Murray mentioned. “Each throwing haymakers and we had been in a position to have the ultimate punch.”
Jokic added 12 rebounds and 9 assists to assist the defending NBA champions finish the Celtics’ streak at 20 residence victories. It was the primary of two regular-season conferences between groups with sights on representing their respective conferences within the NBA Finals. They play once more in Denver on March 7.
Murray, Jokic and the Nuggets went into Boston and Knocked off the highest crew within the NBA.
Murray: 35 PTS (15-21 FGM), 8 REB, 5 AST
Jokic: 34 PTS (14-22 FGM), 12 REB, 9 AST pic.twitter.com/y6QO7wKZ52— NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2024
Jayson Tatum had an opportunity to tie it within the closing seconds, however he missed a one-legged fadeaway off the rim that was contested by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He completed with 22 factors and eight rebounds. Derrick White had 24 factors and Kristaps Porzingis added 21.
“I feel I form of rushed it, and that’s on me,” Tatum mentioned. “I had extra time than I gave myself.”
Jokic, the two-time NBA MVP, feasted on a Celtics protection that opted to not double-team him for many of the sport. He was environment friendly, connecting on 14 of twenty-two area makes an attempt. It additionally didn’t cease him from discovering his teammates, as he had 9 of his assists within the first three quarters. Murray additionally performed stable, going 15 of twenty-two from the sector.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned it was a wanted effort towards a Boston protection that entered ranked third within the league in defensive effectivity.
“They performed for themselves and so they performed for different folks,” Malone mentioned. “It was high-level basketball from two All-Star gamers.”
It was much more spectacular by Jokic, who was enjoying within the aftermath of the sudden loss of life of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milosevic on Wednesday. Milosevic coached Jokic in Serbia.
Murray mentioned Jokic’s response on the courtroom whereas absorbing the feelings of Milosevic’s passing have been “superb.”
“The final couple of days, simply been supporting him, comforting him, giving him a hug,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned. “Nikola went on the market and he honored Dejan’s reminiscence and his legacy, by enjoying on the degree he performed at. Not straightforward to do with a heavy coronary heart. However Nikola is a particular individual.”
The sport was performed with excessive power all through, that includes 13 lead adjustments and eight ties.
Denver erased a six-point halftime deficit with a 12-4 run to open the third quarter. Boston responded with a 9-0 run to retake the lead and carried an 82-81 lead into the fourth.
Murray hit 5 of his first six photographs within the ultimate interval to place the Nuggets in entrance 95-91. Boston pushed again with a 7-0 run, capped by Brown’s driving layup.
Jokic scored popping out of a timeout. Following two empty Boston possessions, he put the Nuggets forward once more with a brief hook within the lane.
Jokic missed an ungainly stepback 3, however Michael Porter Jr. was there to place it again in. Tatum then obtained free for a driving dunk to chop Denver’s result in 101-100.
A shot-clock violation gave the ball again to Boston with simply over a minute to play.
White misfired on a 3 and Porzingis was referred to as for a foul on the rebound, however Aaron Gordon missed his nook 3-point try on the opposite finish. Tatum rebounded, drove the size of the ground and obtained up a layup that rolled off the rim.
Gordon was fouled and hit his first free throw. A double lane violation was referred to as on his missed second try, leading to a bounce ball with 17.1 seconds left.
Boston gained the tip and obtained it to Tatum, who was trapped. However he was in a position to name a timeout with 13.4 seconds remaining.
The Celtics practically misplaced the ball when play resumed earlier than taking one other timeout with 4.9 left to arrange their ultimate shot.
Boston took a 61-55 edge into the half after a fast-paced opening 24 minutes.
NEXT SCHEDULE
Nuggets: Go to the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
Celtics: Open a three-game street journey Sunday at Houston.