The Boston Celtics, the reigning champions, began their preseason with a 107-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown played significant minutes in the first half, while Payton Pritchard shone in the second half with his perimeter shooting.
Pritchard led the Celtics with 21 points and six assists. Tatum contributed 12 points and Brown added eight, with both stars logging 19 minutes on the court. For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic delivered a solid performance with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Neither team’s starters returned for the second half, but Boston’s bench managed to overcome a double-digit deficit and trailed by just one point heading into the final quarter. The bench players played a crucial role in a competitive fourth quarter, with Drew Peterson hitting consecutive three-pointers to give the Celtics a 101-94 lead with 2:12 remaining. JD Davidson made an impressive defensive play with a block and then assisted Dmytro Skapintsev with a lob, sealing the victory with four free throws in the final moments.
The two teams will meet again at Etihad Arena on Sunday, although the participation of any starters remains uncertain. Here are some highlights from Friday’s exhibition game.
Tatum’s shooting form appeared improved, showcasing a crisper and quicker shot than seen last summer. Although he focused largely on playmaking and recorded five assists, he successfully converted three of his seven three-point attempts.
Brown struggled with his shooting, going 3-for-9 overall and 1-for-5 from beyond the arc, but he delivered an impressive dunk that electrified the crowd.
Pritchard was particularly effective, shooting 6-for-12 from three-point range and primarily staying beyond the arc. He played a team-high 24 minutes and showed an ability to quicken the pace for Boston.
The Celtics displayed an aggressive three-point shooting approach, attempting a staggering 61 shots from beyond the arc—an all-time high for the franchise in any game.
Luke Kornet filled in for Al Horford, starting alongside Tatum, Brown, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday. He recorded six points and a team-high 11 rebounds over 21 minutes. Kornet is expected to continue starting until Kristaps Porzingis completes his recovery from offseason surgery.
Xavier Tillman also made an impact off the bench, sinking a couple of threes and contributing in other areas with rebounds, blocks, and steals.
Jordan Walsh showcased his energy on the court, scoring nine points, including a dynamic putback dunk, while grabbing four rebounds and providing four assists.