(Photo Credit: Bleacher Report)
The NBA returned to action on Tuesday night and The Nuggets looking to end their three game losing streak, returned from the All Star break and were able to avenger their triple OT loss to the Boston Celtics on February 9th. In a game that was built up to be a revenge game against the Celtics, was a lot closer than most Nugget fans would have liked.
The first half, the Nuggets came out very stagnant and frankly, was taking poor shots. Now, the Celtics as usual played great defense and their ball movement was excellent. However, the Nuggets who lead the NBA in the paint were bailing the Celtics out and not executing their offense as they normally do.
Defensively, Denver was lacking intensity and allowing far too many layups and the Celtics took advantage. Avery Bradley and Courtney Lee were a combined 10/15 from the field and each had 12 points and they were the main culprits that allowed Boston to stretch their lead to 9 points in the first half.
For the Nuggets, Danilo Gallinari had 13 points and Ty Lawson who has been on fire continued his hot streak and was perfect from the field in the 1st half tallying 12 points. At halftime, Boston was only up one 50-49.
The second half was more typical Nuggets basketball as they were able to get a lot more easy baskets and their transition game which was nonexistent in the 1st half came alive and they started attacking the rim. Gallo was on point in the 3rd quarter showing his all-around game on both sides of the ball and back to back buckets by Corey Brewer to end the 3rd quarter propelled the Nuggets to a 78-70 lead at the end of three quarters.
The 4th quarter was back and forth with the Celtics making a run like any veteran team and some big time three pointers by Jeff Green and Avery Bradley got the Celtics to within three points with five minutes to play.
The Celtics would not get closer than four points the rest of the game and the Nuggets were able to get the win 97-90. Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari both finished 26 points. It wasn’t the prettiest game of basketball but the Nuggets defense wasn’t all that bad as KG and Paul Pierce were kept relatively quiet the entire night and the three game losing streak is no more!
Next up for the Nuggets is a quick 2 game eastern road trip where they will play two bottom feeders; Washington and Charlotte with the first game coming on Friday.
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Sammy Mugharbil
Sammy is Studying Sports Industry, Marketing, and Broadcast Journalism at Metro State University of Denver. He's an Intern with the Colorado Rapids Youth Academy, and a Volunteer for the Metro State Broadcast Network.
