Boston bullies Denver at home
Massive second-half Celtics run snaps Nuggets’ winning streak at eight
DENVER — The end came fast and landed with a thud.
The Celtics snapped Denver’s blistering winning streak at eight Sunday afternoon after the Nuggets’ of fense melted into oblivion for more than a quarter. At the hear t of the 105-87 home loss was Boston’s devastating 31-3 run that started near the end of the third quarter and lasted deep into the fourth quarter.
The Nuggets (34-19) will now travel to Golden State for back-toback games, which star t Monday.
“They turned up the heat, got into us, switched ever ything, and we allowed that to kill our of fensive flow, and then we star ted complaining, and whining, not getting back, not competing,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
With the game unraveling, Malone pulled Nikola Jokic with 4:41 remaining after back-to-back possessions where he failed to get back on defense. Jokic’s frustration with the of ficiating was obvious.
“I think the whole 30 teams are complaining and whining,” Jokic said. “We are just one of them. … They’re doing their job. We need to do our job. Sometimes it’s miscommunication, like arguments, of course, like in ever y job.”
He finished the once-promising game with 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his 14th triple-double this season. Malone reiterated after the game Jokic can’t let the of ficiating dictate his play.
Boston’s two stars, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, were at the heart of the comeback. Together, they bullied the Nuggets for 48 points combined. Denver, which led by 14 late in the third quarter, fueled Boston’s break with six secondhalf turnovers.
Michael Por ter Jr. finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds, but was just 1 for 12 from the 3-point line. He appeared to hurt his hand on a breakaway dunk in the first half.
“I didn’t injure it, I tweaked it,” Porter said. “It’s not anything serious. It was on my shooting hand, but that’s not why I missed 11 3s. … Hopefully never have another one of those nights from three again in my career.”
Guard Jamal Murray missed his four th consecutive game with right knee soreness. His absence, particularly when Jokic rested, was all too apparent.
Amid a chorus of “M-V-P” chants, Jokic ran a clinic in the third quarter. He scored 14 points and ser ved five assists, picking apar t the Celtics’ defense one alley-oop lob or pick-and-roll at a time. One on whirling action, he threaded a needle to Facu Campazzo for an easy layup. Later, Campazzo whipped a baseline pass to Jokic for his 33rd dunk of the season.
By the time Jokic’s run was over, the Nuggets were up 79-74 but the Celtics, behind a smattering of Brown buckets, wouldn’t budge.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens called Jokic one of the most dif ficult challenges he’s ever had to scheme against.
“To me, the step that he’s made towards being an MVP candidate is that he punishes you by scoring the ball,” said Stevens, noting Jokic’s former inclination to always hunt passing lanes.
Of course, Jokic is equally comfor table doing both. On Sunday, he had six assists before scoring his first bucket. Not that he gives a second thought to anything other than the end result.
The Nuggets took a 51-45 lead into the break not because of their potent of fense but because of a swarming, collective defensive ef for t in the first half. Boston shot just 34% from the field, including only 2 for 17 from the 3-point line.