By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Boston Celtics pulled away in the second half to prevail, 130-104, over the Denver Nuggets in Etihad Arena.
Following a win in the first half of the 2024 NBA Abu Dhabi Games on Friday, the reigning NBA champions confidently completed a two-game sweep on Sunday.
Sitting out the second half of the Preseason contest, Serbian Nikola Jokic ended up with 20 points over 19 minutes. He connected 7/13 field goals, including two three-pointers. The Joker added seven rebounds and three assists.
Coming off the bench for the team coached by Michael Malone, Croatian Dario Saric tallied 11 points with 4/6 two-pointers to go with five rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes.
Fellow European, Slovenian Vlatko Cancar started and lasted 18 minutes, facing foul trouble. And missing three shots shaped a scoreless showing alongside three rebounds and three assists.
On the winning end, Portuguese Neemias Queta registered seven points, three rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal, playing 11 of his 17 minutes in the second half. Besides Latvian Kristaps Porzingis on the injury list, Dutch Tristan Enaruna and Ukrainian Dmytro Skapintsev did not play.
Leading the way for the C’s, Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 21 points and Jayson Tatum followed with 17 points.
Focusing on the remaining exhibition games on the Preseason schedule, the sides are returning to the United States. Boston hosts the Philadelphia 76ers in TD Garden next Sunday and Denver welcomes the Phoenix Suns in Ball Arena next Monday.