Denver Nuggets (24-12) at Boston Celtics (23-12 )Wednesday, January 7, 20267:00 PM ETRegular Season Recreation #36 Residence Recreation #17TV: ESPN, NBCSBRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, Sirius XMTD Backyard
The Celtics host the Denver Nuggets for the 2nd recreation of a 5 recreation residence stand. That is the primary of two video games between these two groups this season. They’ll meet once more in Denver on February 25. The Celtics gained the sequence 2-0 final season. The Celtics are 62-40 general all time towards the Denver Nuggets. They’re 41-10 in video games performed in Boston.
The Nuggets addressed some weaknesses within the off season whereas holding their core intact. They traded Michael Porter, Jr for Cam Johnson. They traded Dario Saric for Jonas Valanciunas to deal with their again up heart want. They signed Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway, Jr as free brokers and allowed Russell Westbrook to stroll as a free agent. They didn’t have any picks within the 2025 draft.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 3.5 video games behind 1st place Detroit, and half a recreation forward of 2nd place New York. They’re 2 video games forward of 4th place Toronto, 3.5 video games forward of fifth place Philadelphia, sixth place Orlando and seventh place Miami. The Celtics are 7-4 towards Western Convention opponents. They’re 11-5 at residence and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’ve gained their final 4 video games.
The Nuggets are 4th within the West, 5.5 video games behind first place OKC, 1.5 video games behind 2nd place San Antonio, and half a recreation behind the third place Los Angeles Lakers. They’re half a recreation forward of fifth place Houston , and 1 recreation forward of sixth place Minnesota. They’re 8-5 towards Jap Convention opponents. They’re 14-7 on the street and 4-6 of their final 10 video games. They’re coming off a win of their final recreation.
That is the second recreation of a 4 recreation residence stand for the Celtics. They began the house stand with a win over Chicago and can host Toronto and San Antonio to finish the house stand. They’ll then go on a 4 recreation street journey by way of Indiana, Miami, Atlanta and Detroit. They’ll then play one recreation at residence towards Indiana earlier than taking part in Brooklyn and Chicago on the street. They’ll then have one other 4 recreation residence stand towards Portland, Atlanta,, Sacramento and Milwaukee.
The is the ultimate recreation of a 7 recreation street journey for Denver. They’re 2-4 thus far on the journey, beating Toronto and Philadelphia. They’ll return residence to play Atlanta and Milwaukee earlier than taking part in New Orleans and Dallas on the street. Then they return residence to play Washington, Charlotte and the Los Angeles Lakers earlier than a 3 recreation street journey by way of Washington, Milwaukee and Memphis.
The Celtics have Jayson Tatum (Achilles) on their harm report together with Josh Minott (ankle). The Nuggets have been arduous hit with accidents. Tamar Bates (foot), Cam Johnson (knee), Nikola Jokic (knee) and Jonas Valanciunas (calf) are all listed as out. Christian Braun (ankle), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Jamal Murray (ankle), and Tim Hardaway, Jr (sickness) are all listed as possible after initially being listed as questionable. I don’t know who they may begin as a result of they’ve so many gamers who’ve been out they usually have been beginning a unique lineup each recreation. I’m guessing that Murray and Gordon will return to the beginning lineup.
Possible Beginning MatchupsPG: Derrick White vs Jamal Murray
SG: Payton Pritchard vs Jalen Pickett
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Peyton Watson
PF: Sam Hauser vs Aaron Gordon
C: Neemias Queta vs DaRon Holmes II
Celtics ReservesAnfernee SimonsChris BoucherXavier TillmanHugo GonzalezLuka GarzaBaylon ScheiermanJordan Walsh2-Means PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari WilliamsInjuries/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outJosh Minott (ankle) out
Nuggets ReservesZeke NnajiJulian StrawtherHunter Tyson2 Means PlayersTamar BatesCurtis JonesSpencer JonesInjuries/OutCam Johnson (knee) outNikola Jokic (knee) outJonas Valanciunas (calf) outTamar Bates (foot) outJamal Murray (ankle) probableAaron Gordon (calf) probableTim Hardaway, Jr (sickness) probableJamal Murray (ankle) possible
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Jamal MurrayMurray is averaging 25.4 factors, 4.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.0 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 48.0% from the sphere and 44.7% from past the arc. The Celtics might want to defend Murray very effectively each on 3’s and within the paint as he can put up factors in a rush. I’m simply assuming that Murray shall be taking part in since he’s listed as questionable.
Sam Hauser vs Aaron GordonGordon is averaging 18.9 factors, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 53.3% from the sphere and 43.2% from past the arc. Since he’s an excellent 3 level shooter and really sturdy within the paint, the Celtics would want to defend him effectively each in and out. As with Murray, I’m simply assuming that Gordon will play. He was given a upkeep break day on Monday and, until he had a setback, ought to be able to play on this one.
Honorable MentionJaylen Brown vs Peyton WatsonWatson is averaging 12.2 factors, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block per recreation. He’s taking pictures 50.5% from the sphere and 36.5% from past the arc. Towards the 76ers on Monday, he completed with 24 factors 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and a couple of blocks whereas taking pictures 53.8% from the sphere and 66.7% from past the arc. I’m unsure who shall be beginning the place for the Nuggets so that is only a guess.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is the important thing to successful each recreation. The Celtics are fifteenth with a defensive ranking of 114.3. The Nuggets have a defensive ranking of 117.0, which is twenty first. The Celtics have an offensive ranking of 123.1 (1st) whereas the Nuggets have an offensive ranking of 122.3 (2nd). The Nuggets are 1st taking pictures 40% from past the arc as a workforce and so the Celtics should defend them on the perimeter.
Rebound – Rebounding is one other key to successful each recreation. The Celtics are 18th within the league, averaging 43.8 rebounds per recreation. The Nuggets are twentieth within the league with 43.4 rebounds per recreation. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics should work more durable to seize rebounds to restrict the Nuggets second probability factors and quick breaks.
Effort and Power for 48 Minutes – The Celtics have to be the extra aggressive workforce. They should battle for free balls, defend aggressively, be aggressive in driving to the basket, and simply play more durable than the Nuggets for the complete recreation. They should be the workforce that wishes it extra and play prefer it. They particularly have to start the sport with vitality and never permit the Nuggets to race out to an enormous lead they usually can’t let up all through the sport if they will construct a lead. They particularly have to return out sturdy within the third quarter and play arduous till the ultimate buzzer.
Don’t Underestimate – As soon as once more, the Celtics are taking part in a workforce that’s lacking their finest participant. They’ll have no less than 4 gamers out and probably as many as 8 gamers out. Regardless of what number of gamers are out, the Celtics have gotten to play like they’re dealing with the perfect workforce within the league. They have a tendency to let down towards groups lacking gamers. This workforce, lacking 8 gamers, beat the 76ers on Monday and so the Celtics cannot take them without any consideration.
X-FactorsHome Recreation – The Celtics are as soon as once more residence and they need to get a lift from the house crowd. That is their second straight residence recreation in order that they benefit from not having to journey. The Nuggets are taking part in within the closing recreation of a 7 recreation street journey and could also be getting street weary and the ultimate recreation of a street journey is at all times a troublesome one. In addition they have the distractions of journey, staying in resorts, and taking part in in entrance of a hostile crowd. And, they’re taking part in with out the assistance of their mile excessive ambiance.
Who’s Taking part in – The Nuggets are taking part in with out their beginning heart and their again up heart. Jokic makes an enormous distinction for them when he performs however the Celtics can’t let up as a result of he isn’t taking part in. The Nuggets will certainly be lacking 4 gamers and probably as many as 8. I’m guessing that Gordon and Murray shall be again within the lineup and if they’re, the Nuggets shall be harder to beat.
Officiating – I do know that I say this each recreation, however the officiating can at all times be an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in a different way whether or not they name each little ticky tack foul or they let a number of contact go and let the groups play. We now have already seen video games the place the officiating made a distinction within the consequence, each good and unhealthy. The Celtics have gotten to regulate to the way in which the sport is being known as and never let the calls have an effect on their focus or their play.
