Celtics Triumph Over Nuggets in Preseason Opener
Celtics vs. Nuggets: A Fierce Preseason Battle
BOSTON -- The defending champion Boston Celtics picked up where they left off, tipping off their preseason with a 107-103 win over the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both played extended minutes in the first half, while Payton Pritchard put on a show from deep in the second half. Pritchard led all Celtics scorers with 21 points to go with six assists. Tatum scored a dozen points while Brown put in eight, as both Boston stars saw 19 minutes of action.
Second Half Surge
Nikola Jokic was his usual self for the Nuggets and finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Neither team's starters played after halftime, but Boston's reserves were able to erase a double-digit deficit in the second half and trailed by just one heading into the final frame. It was members of the Maine Celtics that led Boston to a victory in a back-and-forth fourth quarter.
- Drew Peterson hit back-to-back threes to put the Celtics on top 101-94 with 2:12 to play.
- JD Davidson had a stretch where he blocked a shot on defense and found Dmytro Skapintsev with a nice lob on the other end.
- He made four free throws over the final 7.2 seconds to ice the Boston victory.
Key Takeaways
The two teams will play again at Etihad Arena on Sunday, though it’s unclear if any starters will play in that game. Here are a few takeaways from Boston’s exhibition opener on Friday:
- Jayson Tatum's shot looked better after summer setbacks, hitting three of seven from downtown.
- Jaylen Brown added a spectacular dunk to his highlights.
- Payton Pritchard excelled as a shooter, going 6-for-12 from deep.
Tactical Trend: The Celtics attempted 61 three-pointers, signaling a shift towards a more aggressive perimeter game. The previous record for three-point attempts in a game was 60.
Luke Kornet took a starting role in Al Horford's absence, showing strong performance with 11 rebounds. Xavier Tillman also proved effective off the bench.
Jordan Walsh provided high energy, showcasing his potential with a highlight dunk.
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