Good, solid win against another good team last night (both the Celtics and the Nuggets went in to last night at 8-3).
For them most part, the Celtics took an early lead and held it. Denver made one run in the third where they came close to tying it (Aaron Gordon went to the line down by 2 and missed both), but otherwise is was mostly their game.
The offense is looking really good. The defense is coming along. Nikola Jokic, who only played 29 minutes due to a combination of foul trouble and garbage time, scored 29 points on 12 of 20 shooting and really made it look easy. However, he has only 3 assists. Denver's offense generally runs through him, and Mazzulla saied after the game that limiting his playmaking was a point of emphasis.
Excellent games from Tatum and Brown, who scored 34 and 25 points, respectively. Tatum shot poorly from three (2 of 7) but shot well from 2, got to the line (10 of 11), and had 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Brown opened the game hitting his first 9 or 10 shots before finishing 11 of 15. He also had 8 rebounds and led the team with 8 assists, some fo them very good looks.
Horford played 35 minutes - I hope he has another bout of "lower back stiffness" and sits ot tonight. He shot 6 of 8 from 3 on the way to 21 points.
Smart did not produce stats (4 points and 4 assists in 24 minutes, limited by foul trouble) but he was a +28.
Grant, whose counting stats declined when he got into the starting lineup, bounced back with 13 points on 5-8 shooting, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, a block and a steal in 32 minutes.
White was basically his usual self, and Hauser had his first rough shooting night, only 1 of 6 from three. He did add 5 rebounds, an assist, and 2 blocks and had a nice finish - high off the glass layup - off a cut where I thought he was going to be blocked.
Kornet had a nice game, I think he works as the backup big for now. I think there is plenty he can do to improve and he is getting better. I don't see him as more than a "give him spot minutes with fingers crossed" guy in the playoffs, but relying on him in the playoff sis not part of the plan.
With Brogdon out, Pritchard got to play meaningful minutes, and he was great as an energy guy off the bench. Odd state line for him: missed his only three and had no assists, but shot a perfect 5-5 from two and had 5 rebounds (4 offensive). Led the Celtics bench with 11 points.
I think the Celtics have enough guy who can play to start doing some load management.