Nikola Jokic's triple-double helps Nuggets to season sweep of Celtics with 115-109 win
DENVER (AP) Sometimes, Nikola Jokic's triple-double is as meaningful as it is magical.
That was certainly the case Thursday night when Jokic recorded his 20th triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggets withstood a furious fourth-quarter surge by Boston to beat the Celtics 115-109.
That gave the reigning NBA champs a sweep of their season series with the Eastern Conference leaders.
Jokic had 32 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, several of them on alley-oops to Aaron Gordon, who had 16 points on seven dunks and a running hook.
Jamal Murray added 19 points and eight assists as the Nuggets improved to 7-1 since the All-Star break.
It was Jokic's 30th career 30-point triple-double.
“He’s just an incredible basketball player,” Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis said. "Some things I learned from him today, actually. He’s just so smart, so crafty, so many things you don’t see that he does on the floor that helps that team win. It’s incredible. Whenever you overhelp just a little bit, he’ll find Gordon, he’ll find all these guys. It speaks to how valuable he is for them.”
Asked what exactly he had learned, Porzingis said, “a couple of tricks he does, I'll leave it at that.”
Maybe some of that sorcery Porzingis was referencing had to do with the Jokic-Gordon alley-oop game that's becoming as big a part of Denver's crunch-time arsenal as the Jokic-Murray pick-and-roll.
Gordon's best dunk came off a missed layup by Jokic with two minutes remaining. Gordon corralled the rebound with his right hand and windmilled it through the basket for a 109-103 lead.
“It was a bad miss," Jokic said, “but a great dunk.”
The two teamed up for a game-sealing alley-oop with 20 seconds left after Jayson Tatum's 3-pointer for the lead with 40 seconds remaining rimmed out.
Jaylen Brown scored a season-high 41 points and had 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who hadn't lost consecutive games since early November. But Brown was just 7 of 14 from the foul line.
“Maybe it's the elevation,” Brown said. “I felt fine shooting the ball.”
Boston missed nine free throws overall, while the Nuggets missed just one of 22 foul shots.
Porzingis added 24 points and 12 rebounds for Boston, and Tatum had 15 on a tough shooting night.
The Nuggets' bench outscored Boston's reserves 28-10, led by Peyton Watson's 11 points and stellar perimeter defense.
Both teams were coming off losses that ended long winning streaks. The Celtics' 105-104 defeat at Cleveland on Tuesday snapped an 11-game run, and Denver's 117-107 overtime loss to Phoenix halted the Nuggets' six-game surge.
If these teams are barreling toward a collision in the NBA Finals in June, this was a tantalizing preview. Both coaches viewed the showdown as something of a measuring stick heading into the home stretch, with Denver's Michael Malone noting Boston's NBA-best record and Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla calling the reigning champs the league's benchmark.
The game was everything expected of two prime contenders.
Denver's dynamic duo each had buzzer-beaters in the first half, with Murray sinking a 30-footer to end the first quarter and Jokic banking in a 12-foot shot with Porzingis in his face that gave Denver a 62-54 lead at halftime.
Boston quickly erased that deficit with a pair of 3s from Porzingis and a layup from Brown after the break, however.
“That team never goes away,” Malone said.
UP NEXT
Celtics: Visit Phoenix on Saturday night.
Nuggets: Host Utah on Saturday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Kristaps Porzingis vs. Nikola Jokic (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope gains possession) | |||
11:45 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point cutting layup (Aaron Gordon assists) | 0-2 | |
11:29 | Jrue Holiday misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
11:27 | Jrue Holiday offensive rebound | |||
11:24 | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | |||
11:20 | Derrick White offensive rebound | |||
11:07 | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 3-2 | |
10:45 | Jamal Murray misses two point reverse layup | |||
10:44 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
10:36 | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Kristaps Porzingis steals) | |||
10:31 | +2 | Derrick White makes two point running finger roll layup (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 5-2 | |
10:13 | +2 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes two point pullup jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 5-4 | |
9:56 | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 7-4 | |
9:39 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point dunk (Nikola Jokic assists) | 7-6 | |
9:25 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving layup | 9-6 | |
9:09 | Jamal Murray misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:07 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
9:01 | Derrick White turnover (bad pass) (Nikola Jokic steals) | |||
8:57 | Jamal Murray turnover (lost ball) (Derrick White steals) | |||
8:55 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point alley-oop dunk (Derrick White assists) | 11-6 | |
8:43 | Jaylen Brown personal foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
8:31 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving dunk (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 11-8 | |
8:22 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving floating jump shot | 13-8 | |
8:21 | Jaylen Brown technical foul | |||
8:21 | +1 | Jamal Murray makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 13-9 | |
8:03 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving floating jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 13-11 | |
7:54 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving layup | 15-11 | |
7:36 | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
7:33 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
7:30 | Jaylen Brown misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
7:26 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | |||
7:21 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point running jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 15-14 | |
6:59 | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | |||
6:56 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
6:46 | Aaron Gordon misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:43 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
6:43 | Michael Porter Jr. personal foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | |||
6:43 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
6:31 | Aaron Gordon shooting foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | |||
6:31 | Jaylen Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
6:31 | Celtics offensive rebound | |||
6:31 | +1 | Jaylen Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-14 | |
6:17 | Derrick White shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
6:17 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-15 | |
6:17 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-16 | |
6:04 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point pullup jump shot | 18-16 | |
5:41 | Jamal Murray misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:39 | Celtics defensive rebound | |||
5:30 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope personal foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | |||
5:16 | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point layup (Jaylen Brown assists) | 20-16 | |
5:05 | Derrick White blocks Reggie Jackson's two point driving layup | |||
5:03 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
4:54 | Al Horford misses three point jump shot | |||
4:51 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
4:33 | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point driving finger roll layup | 20-18 | |
4:19 | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot | 23-18 | |
4:04 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:01 | Derrick White defensive rebound | |||
3:54 | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
3:52 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
3:50 | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | |||
3:50 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
3:33 | Reggie Jackson misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
3:32 | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | |||
3:27 | Jaylen Brown misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
3:26 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
3:17 | Al Horford personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
3:06 | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point pullup jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 23-20 | |
2:47 | Jayson Tatum turnover (bad pass) (Peyton Watson steals) | |||
2:42 | +2 | Justin Holiday makes two point running layup (Peyton Watson assists) | 23-22 | |
2:34 | Jrue Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
2:34 | Christian Braun defensive rebound | |||
2:10 | Peyton Watson misses three point jump shot | |||
2:07 | Xavier Tillman defensive rebound | |||
1:57 | +3 | Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists) | 26-22 | |
1:38 | Jayson Tatum technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
1:38 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
1:38 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 26-23 | |
1:25 | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
1:22 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
1:14 | Jayson Tatum misses two point driving layup | |||
1:13 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
1:08 | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point running dunk (Nikola Jokic assists) | 26-25 | |
0:50 | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | |||
0:48 | Al Horford offensive rebound | |||
0:42 | +2 | Xavier Tillman makes two point driving reverse layup (Sam Hauser assists) | 28-25 | |
0:33 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround jump shot | 28-27 | |
0:12 | Xavier Tillman misses three point jump shot | |||
0:09 | Nuggets defensive rebound | |||
0:04 | Jrue Holiday personal foul (Take) (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | |||
0:00 | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point pullup jump shot | 28-30 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:43 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point pullup jump shot | 30-30 | |
11:37 | Jaylen Brown shooting foul (Christian Braun draws the foul) | |||
11:37 | +1 | Christian Braun makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-31 | |
11:37 | +1 | Christian Braun makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-32 | |
11:26 | Jaylen Brown turnover (bad pass) (Zeke Nnaji steals) | |||
11:21 | Derrick White shooting foul (Zeke Nnaji draws the foul) | |||
11:21 | +1 | Zeke Nnaji makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-33 | |
11:21 | +1 | Zeke Nnaji makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-34 | |
11:04 | Jaylen Brown misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:00 | Christian Braun defensive rebound | |||
10:55 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point stepback jump shot | 30-36 | |
10:36 | Derrick White misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
10:35 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
10:33 | Jaylen Brown misses two point driving layup | |||
10:30 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
10:30 | Jaylen Brown misses two point tip layup | |||
10:29 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
10:29 | Jaylen Brown misses two point tip layup | |||
10:29 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
10:29 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point putback layup | 32-36 | |
10:29 | Christian Braun shooting foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | |||
10:29 | Jaylen Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
10:26 | Zeke Nnaji defensive rebound | |||
10:17 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 32-38 | |
9:56 | Al Horford misses two point layup | |||
9:54 | Zeke Nnaji defensive rebound | |||
9:39 | Jamal Murray misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:35 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
9:30 | Jamal Murray shooting foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | |||
9:30 | +1 | Jaylen Brown makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 33-38 | |
9:30 | Jaylen Brown misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:28 | Christian Braun defensive rebound | |||
9:07 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving finger roll layup | 33-40 | |
8:50 | Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot | |||
8:46 | Jaylen Brown offensive rebound | |||
8:42 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving layup | 35-40 | |
8:18 | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 35-42 | |
8:03 | Christian Braun personal foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | |||
7:57 | +3 | Jaylen Brown makes three point pullup jump shot | 38-42 | |
7:28 | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point turnaround hook shot | 38-44 | |
7:10 | +2 | Derrick White makes two point turnaround fadeaway bank jump shot | 40-44 | |
7:10 | Peyton Watson shooting foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | |||
7:10 | +1 | Derrick White makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 41-44 | |
6:57 | Reggie Jackson misses three point jump shot | |||
6:54 | Celtics defensive rebound | |||
6:54 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
6:51 | Jump ball. Derrick White vs. Christian Braun (Al Horford gains possession) | |||
6:40 | Reggie Jackson blocks Kristaps Porzingis's two point cutting layup | |||
6:36 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
6:29 | Christian Braun misses three point jump shot | |||
6:29 | Derrick White defensive rebound | |||
6:13 | Jayson Tatum misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
6:10 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
6:00 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
5:59 | Derrick White defensive rebound | |||
5:54 | Jrue Holiday misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
5:51 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
5:47 | Reggie Jackson misses two point running reverse layup | |||
5:45 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
5:44 | Nikola Jokic misses two point putback layup | |||
5:44 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
5:43 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point putback layup | 41-46 | |
5:43 | Jayson Tatum shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
5:43 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 1 |