The Boston Celtics (26-10) will look to finish their four-game road trip on a high note after a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Celtics started strong, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets on consecutive nights, but fell to the Thunder in their last game. They now head to Denver to face the Nuggets (20-14) on Tuesday night.
The Celtics have won four of their last six games, with Jaylen Brown returning to the lineup after a two-game absence due to a shoulder strain. However, star player Jayson Tatum faced a scare when he collided with Thunder forward Jalen Williams and fell out of bounds in the third quarter. Tatum leads Boston in scoring (28.1 points per game), rebounding (9.4), and assists (5.5), while Brown averages 24.3 points per game. Kristaps Porzingis, who recently returned from an ankle injury, has averaged 6.5 rebounds in his 13 games this season.
The Nuggets have been impressive at home, averaging 124.5 points over their last 10 games. Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP, leads the team with 31.5 points, 13 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per game. Jamal Murray (19.4 ppg) and Michael Porter Jr. (19.1 ppg) are also key contributors. Denver has won six of their last 10 games despite missing Aaron Gordon due to a calf strain.
This matchup will be a test for Boston’s defense against Denver’s high-powered offense. The Celtics will need all their weapons to get by the Nuggets, who have been scoring at a high rate recently.
