The Denver Nuggets gear up to challenge the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Friday, January 19. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 PM ET.
Boston will be coming off a 117-98 victory against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, becoming the 13th team in NBA history to start a season 20-0 at home. For the upcoming game, the Celtics will play as the favored team to win.
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said that their goal was to build a connection with the city and receive support as they play their style of basketball. "We've done that for the first 20 games at home. That's been the goal,” Mazzulla said.
"When you play for the Celtics, there's a ton of records, traditions, great players. If you chase them all, you're bound to let yourself down. I think it's more about living in that space of what Celtics basketball is all about and playing the best we can for as long as we can."
Team performance
The Celtics boast an average of 120.9 points per game. On the defensive end, they limit opponents to 110.9 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets maintain a scoring average of 116.3 points per game. Denver's defensive average is conceding 111.4 points per game.
Notably, Boston holds a strong 28-5 record when scoring more than Denver's average points conceded of 111.4. Additionally, they maintain a solid 26-3 record when opponents score fewer than the Nuggets’ average offense of 116.3 points.
Denver holds a commendable 23-6 record when scoring more than the Celtics' defensive average. The Nuggets are 25-8 when allowing fewer than Boston's offensive average of 120.9 points.
In their previous head-to-head encounter with Boston, the Nuggets emerged victorious with a score of 123-111. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, while Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. The Celtics hold a 5-1 record against the Nuggets in their last six matchups.
Now faced with the Celtics once again, the Nuggets will attempt to hand Boston with its first home loss of the season.
Players to watch out for
Key players to watch for the Celtics include dynamic duo power forward Jayson Tatum, averaging 27.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists; and guard Derrick White, contributing 15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.
On the defensive front, shooting guard Brown contributes with 1.1 steals, while power forward Kristaps Porzingis provides 1.8 blocks per match. However, it remains to be seen if Porzingis will be on the court for the Denver game.
The Nuggets, despite some inconsistent performances, have the potential to compete with top teams in the league. Jokic stands out with 25.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. Forward Michael Porter Jr. is a reliable three-point shooter with 2.8 shots made per game.
Denver shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope adds defensive strength with 1.5 steals, and Jokic contributes 0.9 blocks per game.
Injury update
Both teams’ injury report indicates potential roster challenges. On the Celtics’ side, Porzingis’ appearance is questionable due to a knee injury, while White faces a similar status due to an ankle issue.
On Denver's side, small forward Vlatko Cancar is ruled out due to a knee problem. Forward Aaron Gordon’s appearance is also unclear due to a shoulder concern. Additionally, shooting guard Julian Strawther is marked as "out," after the player sustained a knee injury.