Jokic's Triple Double Powers Denver's Sweep of Boston Celtics, 115-109 in NBA Finals Preview
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 08 Mar 2024
In what could be a preview of this season's NBA Finals, defending champion Denver Nuggets outplayed the Boston Celtics, 115-109 riding on Nikola Jokic's triple double on the way to a season sweep of the Eastern Conference's leading squad.
The Nuggets employed a smart strategy: allow Boston's three main men Jaylen Brown, Kristap Porzingis and to a certain measure, Jason Tatum, to generate their usual point production while limiting the numbers of their support cast.
On their side, use big man Nikola Jokic like a battering ram and a howitzer who could grab those rebounds and pitch those unerring inside assists to Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jnr while they setup Jamal Murray and others for their shots.
The result was a brilliant home victory for the Nuggets with Jokic registering his 20th triple double for the season of 32 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists and Murray supporting him with 19 points. Jokic's assists also helped Gordon (16) and Porter (9) to repeatedly score unmolested under the basket. Nuggets plays around Jokic and Murray also resulted in other Nuggets fielded, as K Caldwell Pope (11), Peyton Wjlson (11) and Christian Brown (7) to contribute to the victory.
On the other hand; Brown scored 41 points, 14 rebounds but only 4 assists to lead Boston. Porzingis tallied 24 points and 12 rebounds though he was almost always outmuscled by Jokic. Tatum was limited to just 15 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists. Of the six other Celtics fielded, only Jrue Holiday was able to score in double digits at 12 points. Al Horford, Derrick White and others failed to matter in this contest.
The Nuggets led throughout the contest with the Celtics staging a rally in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to what it was in the final buzzer.
With the victory, Denver swept their season series versus Boston having beaten the Celtics at their home arena, 102-100, last January. More importantly, the win also puts the Nuggets (44-20) in tie for second in the West with the OKC Thunder (43-19) behind the Minnesota Timberwolves (45-19) which won also today against the Indiana Pacers, 113-111.
The loss did not affect Boston's standing on top of the East with a record of 48-14, more than seven games ahead of the second running Milwaukee Bucks (41-22). The Celtics is also the only team to have clinched a berth in the playoffs.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
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