10 takeaways from the Celtics’ 118-106 conquer the Nuggets

The Celtics wrapped up a profitable street journey with a 118-106 win over the Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.

Jayson Tatum led the best way with 29 factors and 6 assists, Kristaps Porzingis added 25 factors and 11 rebounds and the Celtics (27-10) racked up 30 assists as a workforce. Russell Westbrook paced the Nuggets (20-15), ending with 26 factors, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and sure, 8 turnovers.

Listed below are 10 takeaways:

1) The street journey was finally fruitful.

The Thunder recreation received away from them, however general, this was a promising street journey for the Celtics. Going through 4 potential playoff groups in six days isn’t straightforward, particularly with all of the journey concerned.

They discovered a option to win in opposition to the Timberwolves, dominated the Rockets, discovered from a setback in opposition to the Thunder and responded in opposition to the Nuggets.

Celtics followers ought to really feel higher now than they did every week in the past – not that there was actually any cause to panic within the first place.

2) Kristaps Porzingis was aggressive.

Porzingis is all the time in assault mode, however he was significantly assertive Tuesday night time.

He poured in 15 first-quarter factors, profiting from a comparatively empty paint with Jokic out. DeAndre Jordan did his greatest, however he was outmatched, and Porzingis even swatted his dunk try on the opposite finish for good measure.

Porzingis takes the Celtics from nice to almost unstoppable.

“When KP is taking part in properly, we’re fairly robust to beat,” Jrue Vacation instructed reporters.

3. Shockingly, the Nuggets missed Jokic.

Give the Nuggets credit score…They hung round with out Jokic for many of the recreation, however finally, the shortage of inside scoring and common Jokic-ness caught as much as them.

Jamal Murray helped choose up the slack, however the Nuggets’ facilities have been invisible. The double-big lineup labored properly for the Celtics.

The Celtics ought to win this recreation with Jokic sidelined, and so they discovered a option to just do that.

4. A 15-0 run made the distinction.

Whereas dominating a complete recreation could be enjoyable, the fact is that the Celtics actually simply want one nice stretch to win most video games.

They performed comparatively properly many of the night time, particularly within the first quarter, however a fourth-quarter flurry finally made the distinction.

Christian Braun tied it at 93 on a 3 with 8:32 left, then the Celtics used a 15-0 burst over the following four-plus minutes to grab command. All 5 Celtics scored within the stretch, highlighted by a 3-pointers from Vacation and Al Horford.

That killer intuition that has been absent at occasions not too long ago returned on this one.

5. They made some extent within the paint.

Per statistician Dick Lipe, the Celtics had no less than 60 factors within the paint, 25 factors off turnovers and 20 second-chance factors for simply the third time since 2020.

Boston made a concerted effort to assault the basket (see: Nikola Jokic). Denver tried to beat Boston at its personal recreation, by taking a barrage of three’s, and it virtually labored. However the Celtics wore the Nuggets down with their dribble-drives, athleticism and dimension.

6. A cheerful Vacation, certainly.

Lipe famous that the Celtics are 47-2 all-time when Vacation scores no less than 14 factors. He completed with 19 in opposition to Denver and seemed for his offense a bit greater than common.

Vacation has a singular capability to determine how aggressive to be primarily based on what the sport wants. On this one, with Derrick White out, he took 12 pictures – which he’s solely completed one different time since that uncommon 8-for-26 night time in opposition to Memphis.

7. A bit help goes a great distance.

Yet one more from Lipe: The Celtics have gained 24 straight when racking up no less than 30 assists.

Jaylen Brown had a game-high eight – his most since Dec. 21 in opposition to the Bulls – and is now averaging a career-high 4.7 on the season.

Brown has steadily improved his passing capability all through his profession, and it’s been on show greater than ever to this point this season. He set the tone Tuesday, and the remainder of the Celtics adopted swimsuit.

“Every recreation gives a distinct lesson,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla instructed reporters. “Tonight, it was the flexibility to know one another and to play for one another on the offensive finish and clearly proceed our physicality defensively.”

8. Talking of Jaylen, you’ll get a kick out of this one.

Brown unintentionally kicked a fan’s beer onto the ground within the fourth quarter. The beer was maybe a bit too near the road, nevertheless it was positively Brown who did the kicking.

It wasn’t fairly a Larry David tripping Shaquille O’Neal fiasco, nevertheless it did require an extended pause and plenty of ice clean-up close to mid-court.

Brown then helped the Celtics put the sport on ice down the stretch.

9. Sam Hauser is approaching The Little Man.

Sam Hauser is quietly making his method up the Celtics’ all-time 3-point listing. After a 3-for-5 exhibiting Tuesday, he’s now thirteenth all-time with 419 3’s.

He handed beloved Walter McCarty, who had 417. Subsequent up is Isaiah Thomas, who has 460.

Hauser’s teammates, Payton Pritchard, Horford, Brown and Tatum, are all within the prime 10. Passing Larry Fowl (eighth, 649) isn’t out of the query.

10. Now, they will’t let up.

This can be a good psychological train for the Celtics. These wins are necessary, however all of them rely the identical within the standings as the following three video games.

With the Kings, Pelicans and Raptors on the horizon, it might behoove the Celtics to behave as if they’re nonetheless taking part in the perfect within the West.

That is the time to maintain the depth excessive and construct momentum.