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EUGENIO MUÑOZ
Updated
The most exciting game of the NBA day measured the last two champions. TO two contenders to take home the Larry O’Brien. The Boston Celtics, defending champions and one of the best teams of the season, defeated the Denver Nuggets (106-118), champion franchise in 2023 and another that will fight in the brutal West. Of course, he will do it with his superstar and candidate for Missing MVP against Boston: Nikola Jokic. With the Serbian on the floor, things are different for everyone.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts after dunking the ball for a basket and drawing a foul in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The lowering of Jokic conditions everything. The Nuggets reported before the game that he is suffering from an illness and should rest against Boston. Denver competed, it’s reality, but it is a decisive blow to the matter. Permission being named player of the week in the West after averaging 36.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 11.3 assistsand the Celtics don’t give him anything else. Take without losing against them more than 750 days and in its last three precedents it did not drop below 30+12+9.
Jokic is a everything. And its 2024-25 season goes under the radar for the dimension in which it operates. Generates 54.3 points per game (between scores and assists), something that only improves in the last 25 years Doncic (2023-24, 57.2), Harden (2016-17, 56) and Westbrook (2016-17, 54.9). He wasn’t there and everything changed, something that the determined Celtics took advantage of. “We want to win every game,” Tatum said. Your idea is clear.
We want to win every game
Jayson Tatum
The return of Boston
The reality was that Boston did not break the game at any time in the first three quarters (88-83, 36′). It was reminiscent of a somewhat inconsistent version of the last few weeks, but he was able to remove any doubts in the decisive stretch. He based it on a 0-15 partial that Denver, very combative, no longer reached. Tatum, also named player of the week, was the one who pitched for his team.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, left, knocks the ball out of the hands of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Celtics took a breath. With the 29 points, four rebounds, six assists and two blocks from Tatum as the spearhead. And a positive influence from Kristaps Porzingis (25+11) or Jrue Holiday (19+3+7) on both sides of the court. They didn’t shoot very well (12/35 T3), but they were skilled at stealing (11) and Denver’s inspiration was cut off.
It was a dog fight and we just stood our ground
Jayson Tatum
In the premises there was a huge Russell Westbrook (26+9+6), in second youth mode, but its bellows were cut off. “It was a dogfight and we just stood our ground,” Tatum acknowledged.. “Teams can be equally tough when the best players are missing,” he added in relation to Jokic’s absence.
