Celtics explode in third quarter, blow out Nuggets 108-95
By Tristan Deschenes, 98.5 The Sports Hub Contributor
The Boston Celtics got their second consecutive blowout victory on Friday, defeating the Denver Nuggets 108-95. The Celtics have now won five of their last six games and improve to 16-5 on season, including a 9-0 record at home.
In their last matchup against the Nuggets, the Celtics only scored 13 first-quarter points. On Friday the C’s scored 33 first-quarter points and continued their hot shooting for the rest of the game.
Boston led by 15 three separate times in the second quarter, but Nikola Jokic would not let the Nuggets go away. The Nuggets got the Celtics lead down to six at one point in the second quarter and were able to go into halftime down only 53-45.
The Celtics put the game out of reach with an electric third quarter. The green outscored the Nuggets 32-19 in the third and used a big finish to the quarter to crush the Nuggets chances of a comeback.
After getting the lead up to 16, the Celtics forced a turnover and Jayson Tatum found Jaylen Brown who came thundering down the lane and finished off the break with an emphatic jam to extend the Celtic lead to 18 with 30 seconds to go in the third. On the Celtics next possession, Tatum finished off the third quarter in style, hitting a step-back three pointer with 1.7 seconds left to extend the Celtic lead to 21 and put the game away.
The Celtics were again led by their two young studs. Tatum and Brown combined to score 47 points. The pair combined for 50 in their last game as well. Tatum finished the night with 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Jaylen Brown had another impressive night scoring 21 points and recording seven rebounds. Kemba Walker added 19 points.
Marcus Smart made his return to the lineup after missing one game with an illness and an oblique injury. Smart finished the night with nine points.
The Nuggets looked sluggish in their second leg of a back to back. Denver struggled from downtown shooting only 5-30 from behind the arc.
Nikola Jokic was the only Nuggets player that was able to do anything. Jokic finished the night with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Jamal Murray was the only other Nuggets player in double figures with 10.
Up Next: The Cleveland Cavaliers will come to Boston to face the Celtics on Monday night.