The Boston Celtics, reigning champions, initiated their preseason with a narrow 107-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were prominently featured in the first half, while Payton Pritchard showcased his shooting prowess in the latter half.
Pritchard emerged as the top scorer for the Celtics with 21 points and six assists. Tatum contributed 12 points, and Brown added eight during their 19 minutes of play.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic maintained his standard performance with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Neither team’s starters returned for the second half, but the Celtics’ bench rallied to overcome a double-digit deficit, trailing by just one point entering the final quarter.
The fourth quarter saw players from the Maine Celtics play crucial roles in securing the win for Boston. Drew Peterson connected on consecutive three-pointers, propelling the Celtics to a 101-94 lead with just over two minutes remaining. JD Davidson excelled with a defensive block, followed by a lob pass to Dmytro Skapintsev. Davidson sealed the game by making four free throws in the last moments.
The Celtics are scheduled to face the Nuggets again at Etihad Arena on Sunday, with the participation of starters still uncertain. Here are some highlights from Boston’s preseason opener on Friday.
Jayson Tatum showcased improved shooting form
Tatum’s struggles with perimeter shooting during the playoffs and Olympics were a major discussion topic over the summer. However, he displayed a more refined shot on Friday, hitting three of seven attempts from beyond the arc while also notching five assists.
Jaylen Brown had a highlight-worthy moment
Brown finished the game with three field goals out of nine attempts, including one three-pointer. Nonetheless, he delivered the game’s most memorable bucket with a powerful dunk.
Payton Pritchard was an offensive powerhouse
Pritchard went 6-for-12 from three-point range, attempting just one shot from inside the arc. While he didn’t shoot any exceptionally deep threes, he still maintained an impressive scoring output. He played the longest for the Celtics, accumulating 24 minutes and establishing himself as a significant contributor off the bench this season.
The Celtics embraced a three-point shooting mentality
In franchise history, the Celtics have never attempted 60 three-pointers in a regular or playoff game; however, they took 61 on Friday, indicating a new level of offensive strategy.
Last season, the Celtics led the NBA with an average of 42.5 three-point attempts per game, and that number may increase in the upcoming season.
Luke Kornet stepped in for Al Horford
Al Horford was given a rest day, allowing Luke Kornet to take his place in the starting lineup alongside Tatum, Brown, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday. Kornet performed admirably, playing 21 minutes, securing a team-high 11 rebounds, and scoring six points. He is expected to continue starting while Kristaps Porzingis recovers from offseason surgery.
Xavier Tillman also excelled off the bench, hitting several threes and contributing with rebounds, blocks, and steals.
Jordan Walsh brought high energy
Walsh was active throughout his 25 minutes, including a notable putback dunk in the second half. He finished with nine points, hitting two of his seven shots from long range, along with four rebounds and four assists.