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Post by cole on Dec 6, 2019 11:10:11 GMT -5
Celtics will look to avenge a close loss from the recent road trip.
Nuggets are coming in off a win in NY last night, but not likely tired as they won by like 40 and rested their starters the 4th quarter.
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Post by puddin on Dec 6, 2019 11:24:08 GMT -5
stats.washingtonpost.com Basketball | NBA | Game Preview - Nuggets v Celtics 3-4 minutes
Nuggets visit Celtics for rematch on short rest
The Denver Nuggets began their four-game East Coast trip on the right foot Thursday, blowing out the New York Knicks by 37 points.
Things will get considerably harder Friday, when the Nuggets visit the Celtics for the only time this season. Boston is one of three NBA teams still undefeated at home (8-0) and has won four of five since a 96-92 setback at Denver on Nov. 22.
In that game, the Celtics entered the fourth quarter trailing 70-57 before rallying as close as one with 2:19 remaining. Boston was within two with 2.7 seconds left before Jamal Murray sunk a pair of free throws to seal the win for the Nuggets.
Thursday's 129-92 victory over New York was much simpler for Denver, which held a 31-17 edge in scoring in the fourth and led by as much as 43 points in the quarter. Eight Nuggets players -- including five off the bench -- scored in double figures, paced by Will Barton with 17.
Nikola Jokic's scoring woes continued with six points, though he had 10 rebounds and eight assists. The 24-year-old star center has surpassed 10 points just once in his last five games.
Jokic admitted he's struggling earlier this week, saying he "cannot make shots." His coach, Michael Malone, points to the team's success, noting its accomplishments while its best player is "not even being close to the level that we know he's capable of."
Thursday's victory snapped a two-game skid for the Nuggets, tied for their longest of the season. Denver has only played back-to-back nights once, losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the tail end of the first set Oct. 29.
"If you want to be a team that's truly competing late in the playoffs, you can't afford three-game losing streaks," Malone said. "You gotta right the ship right away."
The Celtics enter off a 112-93 win Wednesday over the Miami Heat, who were playing the second half of a back-to-back. Jaylen Brown scored 31 points, 22 in the second half, to lead Boston in the key victory.
"The last few games, people have been blitzing the same way, so (I'm) just being aggressive out of it and trying to make plays," said Brown, who has scored 20 or more points in five of his last six games.
Boston was forced to adjust against Miami without guard and team leader Marcus Smart, who sat out with an illness and an abdomen injury. Smart is questionable for Friday's game; in his absence, Semi Ojeleye played extra time off the bench and set the tone defensively, as the Celtics outscored the Heat 62-41 in the second and third quarters.
"I don't think it was a coincidence that those 24 minutes were our best 24 minutes defensively tonight," said coach Brad Stevens.
In the loss to the Nuggets last month, Celtics point guard Kemba Walker was carted off the court after he sustained a neck sprain in a collision with Ojeleye. Walker missed only one game with the injury and has averaged 25 points per game since his return.
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Post by Cabutan on Dec 6, 2019 12:06:46 GMT -5
Bench was better in the last game. Saw some solid plays by grant and carsen. Carsen showed some huge defensive improvements. We need more.
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Post by kyceltic on Dec 6, 2019 16:00:31 GMT -5
I read Smart will play tonight!! He needs a few more games off to recalibrate!! Get back on course!!
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:05:12 GMT -5
This would be another big win tonight, but I don't like our chances. We don't play well at all against this team. They're passing and balanced attack is hard to keep up with, let alone to beat. Can Brad figure it out?
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Post by fierce on Dec 6, 2019 20:07:35 GMT -5
This would be another big win tonight, but I don't like our chances. We don't play well at all against this team. They're passing and balanced attack is hard to keep up with, let alone to beat. Can Brad figure it out?We'll know for sure after 2 hours and 30 minutes.
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:17:36 GMT -5
Nice drive by Kemba to put the C's on the score board 1st.
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:18:02 GMT -5
Theis for 3!
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:19:19 GMT -5
Smart saves the possession to no avail.
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:20:49 GMT -5
Brown for 3!
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:21:58 GMT -5
Brown for another 3!
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:22:14 GMT -5
C's up by 7
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Post by fierce on Dec 6, 2019 20:22:23 GMT -5
Red hot Brown!
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:22:45 GMT -5
Tatum with his typical cold start.
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:22:59 GMT -5
Brown on FY-Ah! aNOTHER 3!
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Post by Admin on Dec 6, 2019 20:23:52 GMT -5
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Post by fierce on Dec 6, 2019 20:24:34 GMT -5
Having the ability to knock down the 3-point shot, on a regular basis, will make Jaylen an All-Star.
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Post by puddin on Dec 6, 2019 20:24:44 GMT -5
JB will miss a trey sooner or later.
You heard it here first.
Pud
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Post by fierce on Dec 6, 2019 20:25:03 GMT -5
All-Star first before superstar.
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:25:07 GMT -5
Descent start for the C's. Kemba, Theis, and Brown getting us some early buckets. Negguts not looking like the team I'm used to seeing against the C's.
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Post by cole on Dec 6, 2019 20:25:19 GMT -5
Hard to not consider brown even if we just have ONE all star.
That said, teams are guarding him as the third option and he's getting WIDE open looks.
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Post by cole on Dec 6, 2019 20:25:55 GMT -5
I'll be glad when jokic goes out.
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Post by Admin on Dec 6, 2019 20:27:04 GMT -5
Nice pass from Smart to Theis with the quick dunk!
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Post by drboogiebone on Dec 6, 2019 20:27:19 GMT -5
Having the ability to knock down the 3-point shot, on a regular basis, will make Jaylen an All-Star. "Allstar" status is COMPLETELY unimportant to me. I'll take his solid play on both ends of the court any day. Allstars are for bandwagon fans in this league.
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Post by Admin on Dec 6, 2019 20:28:38 GMT -5
Jokic has 10 of DEN's 14 pts ...
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