Game ID: 22400507
Boston Celtics @ Denver Nuggets
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 25 32 26 23 106BOS 37 20 31 30 118
BOS @ DEN ScoutingBOS @ DEN Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 15 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 12/23 after 3, 12 min since (98% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 12/23 after 3, 3 min since (28% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 16 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 13 min (104% of 13)
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 3 min (33% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 4 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 17 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 1/01 after 2, 13 min since (104% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/01 after 2, 3 min since (33% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/04 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 5 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 18 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 1/01 after 2, 13 min since (104% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/01 after 2, 3 min since (33% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/07 · 2 days' restOUT Gordon missed 6 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 19 since 11/25, returns tonight: 16 min (126% of 13)
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 1/03, returns tonight: 5 min (49% of 10)
BACK Pickett back 1/01 after 2, 8 min since (67% of 13)
DEN availability going into 1/08 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 7 since 12/27, out tonight
BACK Šarić back 1/07 after 19, 16 min since (126% of 13)
BACK Pickett back 1/01 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/01 after 2, 4 min since (41% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Jokić missed 2 since 1/07, returns tonight: 38 min (102% of 37)
OUT Gordon missed 8 since 12/27, out tonight
BACK Šarić back 1/07 after 19, 18 min since (140% of 13)
BACK Pickett back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/01 after 2, 4 min since (42% of 10)
NEW Strawther 20 to 27 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 9 since 12/27, returns tonight: 18 min (61% of 30)
BACK Jokić back 1/10 after 2, 38 min since (102% of 37)
BACK Šarić back 1/07 after 19, 18 min since (140% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/07 after 2, 5 min since (47% of 10)
NEW Westbrook 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 20 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 2 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 1/10, returns tonight: 4 min (34% of 10)
BACK Jokić back 1/10 after 2, 38 min since (103% of 37)
BACK Gordon back 1/12 after 9, 18 min since (61% of 30)
NEW Westbrook 27 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 23 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 20 to 28 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 12/25, returns tonight: 25 min (81% of 31)
OUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 11 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Hauser back 12/23 after 2, 17 min since (83% of 21)
BACK Queta back 12/25 after 2, 7 min since (56% of 13)
BOS availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Scheierman missed 12 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/31 after 3, 25 min since (81% of 31)
BACK Hauser back 12/23 after 2, 17 min since (83% of 21)
BACK Queta back 12/25 after 2, 10 min since (77% of 13)
BOS availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 12/27, returns tonight: 28 min (101% of 27)
OUT Scheierman missed 13 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/31 after 3, 32 min since (104% of 31)
BACK Queta back 12/25 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BOS availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Brown missed 2 since 1/02, returns tonight: 40 min (114% of 35)
OUT Scheierman missed 14 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/31 after 3, 31 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/03 after 4, 28 min since (101% of 27)
BOS availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 15 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Brown back 1/05 after 2, 40 min since (114% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 12/31 after 3, 31 min since (102% of 31)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/03 after 4, 28 min since (105% of 27)
BOS availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Scheierman missed 16 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Brown back 1/05 after 2, 39 min since (113% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 12/31 after 3, 32 min since (102% of 31)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/03 after 4, 30 min since (112% of 27)
BOS availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 17 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Brown back 1/05 after 2, 38 min since (109% of 35)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/03 after 4, 30 min since (110% of 27)
BOS availability going into 1/15 · 2 days' restOUT Scheierman missed 18 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Brown back 1/05 after 2, 38 min since (110% of 35)
BACK Porziņģis back 1/03 after 4, 31 min since (113% of 27)
BOS availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 19 since 12/04, returns tonight: 4 min (34% of 12)
BACK Brown back 1/05 after 2, 37 min since (107% of 35)
NEW Porziņģis 27 to 32 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 37 and Porter Jr. at 24 a game. Without Gordon (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 100, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Brown at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 100 a night to Denver's 117 and the line, where Denver takes 23 free throws a game to Boston's 16. Call it Denver 116, Boston 115, Boston keeping it close.
12/30 @ UTA 132-121 — DEN notes
DEN won 132-121. DEN shot 50% (53 of 105) to UTA's 51%, 9 of 30 from three. DEN turned it over 7 times to UTA's 16. The glass went 51-37 for them. Jokić led with 36 (14 of 33, 3 of 9 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Porter Jr. added 21, Murray 20. The hinge was Q3, 34-23: DEN came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 9. DEN trailed 64-66 at the half and won the second half 68-55. Westbrook was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/01 vs ATL 139-120 — DEN notes
DEN won 139-120. DEN shot 56% (53 of 94) to ATL's 45%, 12 of 30 from three. Jokić led with 23 (8 of 16, 6 of 6 at the line); Murray added 21, Porter Jr. 21. The hinge was Q3, 41-24: a lead of 3 became 20, and the lead reached 27. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
1/03 vs SAS 110-113 — DEN notes
DEN lost 110-113. DEN shot 43% (42 of 97) to SAS's 46%, 15 of 39 from three. DEN turned it over 8 times to SAS's 13. The glass went 46-56 against them. Jokić led with 41 (15 of 36, 3 of 10 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Porter Jr. added 22, Murray 14. Q3 was theirs, 38-27, turning a 8-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 86-72 against them.
1/04 @ SAS 122-111 — DEN notes
DEN won 122-111 in 1 overtime. DEN shot 44% (47 of 108) to SAS's 39%, 10 of 33 from three. DEN turned it over 7 times to SAS's 12. Jokić led with 46 (19 of 35, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Porter Jr. added 28, Murray 13. The hinge was Q4, 27-16: DEN came in trailing by 11 and left it level. DEN trailed 54-55 at the half and won the second half 68-56. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/07 vs BOS 106-118 — DEN notes
DEN lost 106-118. DEN shot 46% (40 of 87) to BOS's 50%, 14 of 36 from three. DEN turned it over 16 times to BOS's 11, and BOS turned those into 11 steals. Westbrook led with 26 (9 of 18, 4 of 9 from three); Murray added 19, Strawther 19. Q2 was theirs, 32-20, the deficit cut from 12 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 98-74 against them. Porter Jr.'s -16 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/08 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 36 and Porter Jr. at 21 a game. Without Gordon (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Powell at 20 and Harden at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 16 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it Denver 116, the Clippers 112, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/10 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 37 and Porter Jr. at 21 a game. Without Jokić (2 straight), Gordon (8 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Clowney at 13 and Russell at 13 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without C. Johnson (3 straight), Thomas (3 straight), Simmons (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to Brooklyn's 32 and the turnovers, Brooklyn giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Denver 119, Brooklyn 109, Denver by 10.
1/12 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grimes at 18 and Hardy at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Irving (4 straight), Edwards (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 41 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. Without Gordon (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-5 a night and Denver plus-1 and the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Dallas 116, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
1/14 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Washington at 17 and Hardy at 15 a game. Without Irving (5 straight), Edwards (6 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Westbrook at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and Dallas plus-1 and the defense, Denver allowing 108 a night to Dallas's 115. Call it Denver 115, Dallas 114, Dallas keeping it close.
12/31 vs TOR 125-71 — BOS notes
BOS won 125-71. BOS shot 54% (47 of 87) to TOR's 31%, 22 of 43 from three. BOS turned it over 13 times to TOR's 21. Tatum led with 23 (6 of 13, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 11 at the line); Pritchard added 19, White 16. The hinge was Q3, 45-18: a lead of 10 became 37, and the lead reached 56. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +38.
1/02 @ MIN 118-115 — BOS notes
BOS won 118-115. BOS shot 50% (46 of 92) to MIN's 50%, 22 of 57 from three, and got to the line 6 times to MIN's 22. BOS turned it over 3 times to MIN's 15. The glass went 31-41 against them. Tatum led with 33 (13 of 27, 6 of 17 from three); White added 26, Hauser 15. The hinge was Q2, 34-16: BOS came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 11. Queta was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/03 @ HOU 109-86 — BOS notes
BOS won 109-86. BOS shot 51% (39 of 77) to HOU's 36%, 19 of 39 from three, and went to the line 18 times to HOU's 12 — 12 points from the stripe to their 12. White led with 23 (8 of 16, 6 of 12 from three); Tatum added 20, Pritchard 20. The hinge was Q4, 27-14: a lead of 10 became 23, and the lead reached 28. White was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/05 @ OKC 92-105 — BOS notes
BOS lost 92-105. BOS shot 36% (31 of 85) to OKC's 45%, 9 of 46 from three, and went to the line 24 times to OKC's 13 — 21 points from the stripe to their 11. Tatum led with 26 (7 of 17, 2 of 6 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Brown added 21, Porziņģis 19. Q2 was theirs, 30-23, but the other 3 periods went 82-62 against them. They led by as many as 13. Porziņģis's -17 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 @ DEN 118-106 — BOS notes
BOS won 118-106. BOS shot 50% (44 of 88) to DEN's 46%, 12 of 35 from three. BOS turned it over 11 times to DEN's 16. Tatum led with 29 (11 of 23, 1 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Porziņģis added 25, Holiday 19. The hinge was Q1, 37-25: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 15. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/10 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 97, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and White at 19 a game. 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Monk at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Fox (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 97 a night to Sacramento's 111 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-7 a night and Boston plus-1. Call it Boston 115, Sacramento 110.
1/12 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Brown at 21 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 28 and Murray at 18 a game. Without Murphy III (3 straight), Williamson (2 straight), Payton (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 38 percent from three to Boston's 33 and the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to New Orleans's 111. Call it Boston 115, New Orleans 107.
1/15 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Barnes at 20 and Barrett at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Mogbo (4 straight), Lawson (7 straight), Battle (6 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Brown at 20 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 106 a night to Toronto's 119 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-2 a night and Toronto minus-6. Call it Boston 115, Toronto 110.
1/17 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 42 percent and 29 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Porziņģis at 21 a game. One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 106, shooting 42 percent and 29 from three, 22 free throws a game; Banchero at 25 and Anthony at 18 a game. Without Wagner (17 straight), Suggs (6 straight), Harris (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Boston 109, Orlando 105, Orlando keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JS J. Springer
JT J. Tatum
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
DENCB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
DŠ D. Šarić
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
MP M. Porter Jr.
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
SA Saric
ZN Z. Nnaji
BOS/DEN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jayson Tatum scores 29, Porzingis adds 25 as Celtics hold off depleted Nuggets 118-106
DENVER -- — Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 25 and the Boston Celtics held off the depleted Denver Nuggets 118-106 on Tuesday night as three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic sat out because of an illness.
Porzingis had 11 rebounds, while Jrue Holiday contributed 19 points. The Celtics attempted 35 3-pointers, which was well below their season average of 50.17. Instead, they outscored the Nuggets by a 60-46 margin in the paint.
Russell Westbrook had 26 points for Denver and eight turnovers. Michael Porter Jr . added 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Nuggets dropped to 10-7 at home. They were 33-8 last season.
Trailing by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Nuggets rallied to make sure the game stayed tight down the stretch. There was a momentary break with 8:56 remaining when a cup of ice spilled on the court. It took several minutes to clean up. Christian Braun followed with a 3-pointer to tie it at 93.
Boston went on a 15-0 run to help cement the win.
The game between the last two NBA champions was setting up to feature two of the top players in the league. But Jokic went from probable to questionable to finally ruled out. The Nuggets were also missing Aaron Gordon (calf).
Takeaways Celtics: Stellar defense down the stretch, including steals from Al Horford and Tatum.
Nuggets: The bench had a solid showing with Julian Strawther scoring 19 and Peyton Watson 14.
Key moment Porter appeared to be fouled by Sam Hauser going in for a dunk with 2:57 left in the third quarter and Denver trailing 80-77. The Celtics won the challenge.
Key stat There were 10 lead changes and eight ties.
Up next The Nuggets turn around and host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, while the Celtics play at home against Sacramento on Friday.