Celtics-Nuggets Notebook: no Nikola Jokic, Kristaps Porzingis has “big-time” game, and Denver is Celtics Nation

DENVER — “We had been purported to be 4-0, however second greatest was 3-1,” mentioned Joe Mazzulla after the Celtics defeated the Nuggets 118-106 to shut out a four-game highway journey.

Jayson Tatum led the best way with 29 factors, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and a couple of blocks, persevering with a robust stretch of particular person basketball.

Jrue Vacation had his highest-scoring recreation in over a month, recording 19 factors, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

And, Kristaps Porzingis completed with 25 factors on 9-18 capturing, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, benefiting from mismatch after mismatch.

The highway journey was highlighted by a last-second win in opposition to the Timberwolves, a blowout of the Rockets, and a cushty win in opposition to the Nuggets. And, in fact, there was the second-half collapse in opposition to the Thunder that marked the one lack of the week.

Nonetheless, regardless of the ups and downs of the previous month, with Tuesday’s win, the Celtics enhance to 27-10 on the season — good for third-best within the NBA. (For reference, the Celtics had a 28-9 document by way of 37 video games final season).

Right here’s three issues it’s essential know from on-the-ground in Denver.

Add Ball Area to the checklist of NBA arenas taken over by Celtics followers

It was an inspiring effort for the Denver Nuggets, who hung round on this one for many of the night time regardless of being with out each Nikola Jokic (sickness) and Aaron Gordon (calf pressure). The Celtics jumped forward to a 15-point first half lead, solely to look at it wither away when the Nuggets outscored them by 12 within the second quarter, with Russell Westbrook (26 factors, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) and Jamal Murray (19 factors, 4 assists) main the cost.

That’s the form of shorthanded comeback run that may usually drown out an opposing workforce’s fanbase – however even throughout that stretch, the cheering of Celtics followers in attendance was audible.

As such, the sport by no means felt like a real highway recreation, with 1000’s of Celtics followers making their presence identified every time their workforce scored. The identical was the case in Houston, Chicago, Washington DC, Brooklyn, and a number of other different cities the Celtics’ traveled to this season.

By the fourth quarter, the Celtics held a double-digit lead for good — and in case you didn’t know any higher, you would possibly assume that the sport was being performed in New England, not throughout the nation in in Colorado.

The one cease on the Celtics highway journey that felt like a real highway recreation was Oklahoma Metropolis — in Denver, “Let’s Go Celtics” chants sporadically broke out all through the sport, even when the momentum was on the facet of the Nuggets.

And, as the ultimate buzzer sounded, the predominantly-green remaining crowd rose to their ft — practically 2,000 miles away from TD Backyard.

Kristaps Porzingis has his greatest recreation of the season

After lacking 4 video games with an ankle sprain, Porzingis performed within the ultimate three video games of the Celtics four-game highway journey and capped issues off what with was possible his greatest efficiency of the season.

“I believed he was big-time tonight on each ends of the ground,” mentioned Joe Mazzulla. “For this season, for the best way the smalls are happening him, I believed it was probably the most bodily that he’s been, and I believed that was probably the most intentional that we’ve been about not solely getting him the ball, however stepping into the paint versus smaller matchups. So we’ve simply set to work by way of these.”

Porzingis, who has solely performed 20+ minutes in 10 video games this season, put himself at 80-85% on the restoration timeline, noting that he nonetheless has to get into a greater rhythm from a capturing standpoint.

“I felt good,” he mentioned. “Clearly I’ve to play my method again into good condition. I do know that is what everyone expects from me. That is what I confirmed final season, and now I’m simply working my method again up. And truthfully, tonight was, in my view, one of many first video games that I felt like I’m getting near feeling wholesome, feeling good, and getting again into good condition.”

Jayson Tatum credited Porzingis for serving to energy a 15-0 fourth quarter run that successfully put the sport out of attain.

“Simply the pressure he performed with on the offensive finish – drawing fouls, attacking the mismatches, getting offensive rebounds, getting a few putback dunks – the best way he performed tonight was much-needed.”

Porzingis has handled a myriad of decrease leg accidents this season, together with a heel pressure and a number of ankle sprains, however seems to be the healthiest he’s been all 12 months.

For sure, being in-and-out of the lineup has been irritating.

“It all the time will get me just a little bit, you understand? Clearly, I’m human, and I need to play and it’s robust getting back from damage,” Porzingis mentioned. “You’re not in good form, and also you count on quite a bit from your self. You’re working by way of it, in fact. However, luckily or sadly, I’ve been in these conditions, so I understand how to bounce again and attempt to get in a rhythm shortly.”

Celtics had been longing for redemption after OKC loss — Jokic or no Jokic

Over the previous few seasons, there’s been a development the place when opposing groups’ greatest gamers sit, the Celtics wrestle. A notable instance was final 12 months when the Lakers got here to city and sat LeBron James and Anthony Davis — however nonetheless got here away with a double-digit win.

Tonight — with the sport tied on the half and the Nuggets with out each Jokic and Aaron Gordon — it appeared issues may be headed towards one other letdown end.

“Clearly, they’re not higher with out him,” Tatum mentioned of Jokic. “However a few of these one-off video games the place the workforce’s greatest participant is out, we’ve misplaced a few of these video games earlier than.”

However, Porzingis mentioned that the Celtics weren’t overlooking Joki.

“I feel it was burning within us just a little bit, that final recreation — how we performed offensively. So we wished to come back again with this recreation,with excessive focus and excessive execution and doing issues nicely,” Porzingis mentioned.

Earlier than the sport, Joe Mazzulla mentioned easy methods to get forward of a possible letdown effort.

“How are you going to be proactive?” he mentioned. “I feel it comes down to only having an understanding of what they appear to be when he’s not accessible. You bought Murray, you bought Porter. These two guys are two top-notch guys that may impression the sport. However, it’s actually simply everyone. It’s simply actually consideration to element — to what their personnel is, how we are able to impression the sport defensively and what it appears to be like like on the offensive finish.”

It might not have been the proper 48-minute effort — however it was finally sufficient to finish a difficult roadtrip with a victory.