Tiktekno: clip summarizing today's events in sports, 7.3/Sport1
Boston looks like the best team in the NBA during most stages of the season, but the two meetings against Denver, including tonight's loss 115:109, keep it in proportion, and illustrate that it still has a way to go before it can truly be considered the number 1 threat in the league.
Despite a tepid shooting day with just 4-of-21 from beyond the arc (19%), the champion found a way to win and complete a season sweep of the Celtics, once again enjoying the magic of Nikola Jokic.
The Serbian had another great game with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, showing complete control of the game and deciding it with a series of smart moves at the end.
One of them was Aaron Gordon's lob pass to Eli-Hope, which gave Denver a 4-point lead with 20 seconds left, effectively deciding the game.
In the United States, the Halli-Hop between Jokic and Gordon is already being defined as "the deadliest move in the NBA right now": tonight it was recorded several times, and in recent years the Nuggets have run it at critical moments in games, even in the playoffs.
Tonight, Gordon finished with seven dunks, most of them from Jokic's assists.
"It was a pass, of course," said Jokic about the move in question in the final seconds, which was defined in the United States as a "crazy pass".
"I hand her over many times. I just know Aron will be there, sometimes I don't even need to see him to know he's there."
blind understanding.
Gordon Stamps/GettyImages, Brendall O'Banon/Clarkson Creative
"He's just a tremendous player. There were a few things I learned from him today, to be honest," analyzed Kristaps Porzingis.
"He's so smart, so diverse, he does so many things that help his team win, even things you don't see on the field."
Jokic praised the Celtics and said that "they are a really good team, they have answers for everything, in terms of matchups, defense, attack. They are well built, they are the best team in the league right now. It is very difficult to face such a long and tall team, which knows how to defend well , with very smart actors".
But the Celtics once again lacked a star to go to with closed eyes in the critical moments.
Jaylen Brown set a season high with 41 points, but finished with just 7 of 14 from the free throw line.
Jayson Tatum was especially disappointing with only 15 points, and dysfunction in the closing minutes.
"Jayson Tatum is a likable man, but he's just not the man," commentator Skip Biles said.
"With 45 seconds left in the game, he is completely free for a three-pointer that could put Boston ahead, and it barely hits the ring. This is the essence of his story in big moments."
Many expected Tatum to be at his peak in the game against Denver and against Jokic, but he explains that he saw things differently.
"Imposing myself on the game by force and making it look like my game on national television is not what I'm supposed to do. Today there were other players who stood out, so I took a step back," he explained.
"I'm ready to do everything for the team to succeed, even if it means standing in the corner."
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Tatum/Reuters
One way or another, Boston will come more humble to the next meetings with Denver in the playoffs, hoping that it will be the final series.
Or maybe she'll even be a little apprehensive.
"The Nuggets completed a season sweep of the Celtics despite shooting 25% from three in the first game and only 19% tonight. It's a scary sign for Boston if these two teams meet in the finals. Denver is capable of playing much better basketball," concluded Kevin O'Connor of the Ringer".
More on the same topic:
Denver Nuggets
Boston Celtics