By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The most recent NBA champions, currently ranking second in their respective conferences, opened the NBA Sundays schedule with the Boston Celtics snapping a two-game losing streak and marching past the Denver Nuggets, 110-103, in TD Garden.
Serbian Nikola Jokic played 39 minutes and scored 20 points, shooting 9/15 from the field, including 2/3 three-pointers.
Grabbing 14 rebounds shaped his 55th double-double of the 2024-25 Regular Season, but with nine assists, he fell shy of yet another triple-double. He also recorded two steals.
Croatian Dario Saric stayed on the bench. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery) remained sidelined.
Dropping to 39-22, the Nuggets are now ten games away from the Western Conference leaders, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Looking to catch up with the second seed, the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies are half a game behind the team coached by Michael Malone.
On the winning end, the Celtics narrowly held on down the stretch after previously leading by a margin of 20 points and improved to 43-8, reducing separation from the leaders of the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to seven games. The third-placed New York Knicks are three games away.
With Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (illness) sidelined, Portuguese Neemias Queta lasted just under 17 minutes, putting up eight points with 4/5 two-pointers, ten rebounds, and one assist.
Moving to the third challenge in a seven-game homestand, the C’s host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. On the same day, the Nuggets welcome the Sacramento Kings in Ball Arena.