Immediately following the announcement of the starting lineups, there was no “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne bellowing throughout TD Garden – Instead, the jumbotron displayed a giant holographic shamrock – rotating three simple words: “Let’s Go Celtics.”
Fans must’ve grown accustomed to Mr. Osbourne’s recognizable tones because there was a momentary delay before they realized the call to chant. However, once they caught on, their cheers echoed loudly.
To this author’s knowledge, the last time they ditched the vocals of the great Ozzy Osbourne was in the playoffs – with the “Let’s go Celtics” chant filling the void then.
Friday night felt like a playoff game as the Celtics dropped their first home game of the season, 102-100, at the hands of the Denver Nuggets.
The loss marked Boston’s first regular season loss at home since March 5, 2023, ending streaks of 20 straight wins this season and 27 dating back to last season.
In what very possibly could be an NBA Finals preview, it was fitting this game fell on National Pop Corn Day – as Boston and the defending champs went back and forth in a thriller.
The fireworks started right from the start, as Jayson Tatum found a cutting Kristaps Porzingis on the game’s first possession. The result was a thunderous two-handed slam that set the tone for the night.
Throughout the full 48 minutes, both teams relentlessly traded blows in a hard-fought battle. The intensity persisted down to the wire, culminating in the final moments of a tightly contested, clutch game.
The dramatic conclusion saw Jayson Tatum hitting the floor, with his one-legged fadeaway jumper at the buzzer missing its mark – a shot Tatum admitted postgame that he rushed.
“We play a lot of games. You should never get too excited,” Tatum said postgame. “We don’t lose a lot, so when we do lose, it feels worse than it is, but it’s still just one game. We played a really good team today. S— happens, and just get ready for the next one.”
Here are three takeaways as the Celtics drop to 32-10 on the season and 13-8 in the clutch.
Outdueled
This is really where the game was decided. Denver’s star duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray outplayed Boston’s star duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Murray (35 points) and Jokic (34 points) combined for 69 of Denver’s 102 points (67.6%) – scoring or assisting on 89 of Denver’s points – shooting a combined 29-of-43 (67.4%).
On the other hand, Tatum (22 points) and Brown (13 points) combined for just 35 points on 15-of-43 (34.8%).
“Obviously, you know, we always can be better. Try to make it tough,” Tatum said postgame when discussing the team’s approach to defending Jokic and Murray. “They’re good players. They made some really big shots.”
There haven’t been many games the Jays have struggled like that this season – However, Friday night was one of those nights, inevitable throughout an 82-game slate.
Celtics’ offense goes MIA in the second half
The Celtics had one of their worst halves of the season in the second half on Friday night.
Boston mustered just 39 points in the second half, their second-fewest in a half this season. The C’s shot a season-lown 16-of-42 (38.1%) from the field and 4-of-18 (22.2%) from distance in the second half.
The Celtics played to Denver’s pace, and it killed them – as they totaled just two points on the fast break in the second half.
“I think we got some good looks that we didn’t knock down,” Derrick White said postgame when reflecting on the second half. “The game definitely did slow down. The score represents that.”
Boston went ice cold down the stretch – finishing 1-of-9 (11.1%) in the final 4:51, with the only make coming via a Tatum dunk. Tatum, who attempted five shots over that stretch and made just one (20%) – including missing the potential game-tying shot with two seconds remaining and another layup in the game’s final minute – took accountability postgame.
“In those situations, you always want to be aggressive and then let your instincts take over and try to make the right play,” Tatum said. “But, I missed a couple of bunnies at the end. I gotta be better and just really finish those.”
All-Star Derrick White
Before Friday night’s game, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone sang high praise for White.
“Derrick White is having an All-Star-caliber year. It’s crazy he’s averaging one block per game – and he’s a guard. And they lead the league in blocks per game, so give a lot of credit to Derrick,” Malone said. “He just continues to find ways to get better and impact winning.”
Though it didn’t result in a victory, White made those winning plays he so often does.
The 29-year-old led the C’s with his 10th 20-point effort this season, finishing with 24 points on 9-of-18 (50%) shooting from the field and 5-of-12 (41.7%) from distance. White also tied the team-high with five assists while also recording a block.
White played a crucial role in the third quarter, helping Boston stay in the game when it looked like another third-quarter struggle was about to unfold.
He did a bit of everything in his typical fashion, making those scrappy plays that go so far. The All-Defensive guard forced a steal that led to Boston’s only fast break points in the second half and drew a charge a few possessions later.
With under five minutes to go in the frame, White drew an and-one on Denver’s Michael Porter Jr., hit a shimmy on the floor, and received a kiss on the forehead from Kristaps Porzingis.
“That was crazy,” White said on the kiss he received. “It was shocking, but he’s a great teammate.”
While the kiss might have caught him off guard, the “MVP” chants at the free-throw line after his successful shot did not – he’d heard them before.
White finished the third quarter with 13 points, scoring or assisting on six of Boston’s eight makes (75%).
While it might seem repetitive, White’s importance to the success of the Celtics is undeniable. It feels like he consistently makes the right plays whenever he steps onto the court. Even if his contributions don’t always grab the spotlight regarding an All-Star selection, Boston recognizes the special player they have in White, a sentiment echoed by the unmistakable “MVP” chants.
Honorable mention: Moral victory?
Friday night was a challenging task for the Celtics.
Denver is the reigning champions – and they looked every part of that.
“They are a good team. They are the champs for a reason,” White said postgame. “They are the until someone knocks them off, so they win games in many different ways, and I think this year, we have shown we can win games in many different ways.”
Looking at the box score, it’s clear the Celtics had opportunities to win. With just three turnovers, they outscored Denver 17-2 on points off turnovers, had a 42-24 advantage on the perimeter, and led by four in the paint.
For the most part, Boston dominated the margins – which typically results in a W. But despite controlling key areas, Denver’s duo outplayed Boston’s, and the Nuggets made a few more crucial plays down the stretch to secure the win.
As the Celtics aim for the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June, potentially even facing Denver, they’ve proven they can compete with the defending champs – underscoring their readiness for championship contention.
“I love it even though we lost,” Porzingis said. “It’s a great game for us. There are many things I think that we’re going to look at, and we can study those things because this is a real team. This is last year’s champs, and that’s what we want to be.”
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