The Boston Celtics, the reigning champions, opened 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 showcased his shooting skills in the second half.
Leading the Celtics, Pritchard scored 21 points and provided six assists. Tatum contributed 12 points, and Brown added eight, with both stars playing for 19 minutes.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic was effective as usual, finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds.
After halftime, neither team’s starters returned to the court, but the Celtics’ bench rallied to come back from a double-digit deficit, trailing by just one point at the start of the final quarter.
The fourth quarter was a competitive back-and-forth affair led by players from the Maine Celtics. Drew Peterson hit consecutive three-pointers to give the Celtics a 101-94 lead with 2:12 remaining. JD Davidson made an impact with a defensive block and assisted Dmytro Skapintsev with a lob pass, ultimately sealing the victory by scoring four free throws in the final moments.
The two teams are set to meet again at Etihad Arena on Sunday, although it remains uncertain whether starters will participate in that game. Here are some key takeaways from Boston’s preseason opener:
Tatum’s shooting appeared improved after a difficult summer, where he struggled with his perimeter shots. On Friday, he showed a smoother and quicker shot, hitting three of seven from beyond the arc while also assisting five times.
Though Jaylen Brown struggled with his overall shooting, going 3-for-9, he made a highlight dunk that energized the crowd.
Payton Pritchard had an impressive performance, nailing six of twelve three-point attempts and primarily focusing on outside shooting. He played a team-high 24 minutes and maintained a fast pace for the Celtics.
The Celtics set a franchise record for three-point attempts in a game, launching 61 shots from beyond the arc, showcasing a significant increase from their already high average of 42.5 attempts per game last season.
Luke Kornet stepped in for Al Horford, who rested, and contributed effectively with 11 rebounds and six points in 21 minutes. His role is expected to be crucial while Kristaps Porzingis continues to recover from surgery.
Xavier Tillman performed well off the bench, making two three-pointers while securing two rebounds, blocking a shot, and recording two steals.
Jordan Walsh displayed high energy throughout his 25 minutes on the court, contributing nine points, including two three-pointers, along with four rebounds and four assists.