It’s a tough end to what was otherwise a strong trip. Ray Allen led five Boston players in double figures with 25 points, but the C’s hurt themselves on both lines, making 13-of-24 free throws and just 2-of-13 3-point tries.
There’s a day off before a big three-game homestand which features two winnable games (New York, New Jersey) and another (Cleveland) that may qualify as a must-win if the Celtics are going to have any chance to remain a challenger for the top spot in the East.
Fourth quarter, 1:23, Nuggets 111-99: The white flag was raised after Kevin Garnett’s layup rolled off the rim and the C’s will finish 3-1 on the trip out west.
Fourth quarter, 2:16, Nuggets 108-97: Hack-a-Kenyon just began as Kevin Garnett lunged at Mr. Martin to put the 59 percent free throw shooter on the line.
It works as Martin splits a pair and the C’s can get as close as eight points on this possession.
Fourth quarter, 2:57, Nuggets 105-94: A little life for the C’s with four straight points and some pressure to get a turnover.
Fourth quarter, 3:47, Nuggets 105-90: Rondo is back out there but this one is sliding away in a deluge of J.R. Smith 3-pointers.
Smith has three from beyond the arc in the last four minutes. Might be time to start taking stock of what was accomplished on this trip.
Fourth quarter, 5:12, Nuggets 102-86: It’s been a great road trip but it’s ending in difficult fashion. Rajon Rondo was taken out with an injury as the Nuggets pull away.
Paul Pierce is a wreck.
Fourth quarter, 6:50, Nuggets 96-82: Shows what I know. Paul Pierce is back after the timeout, but it doesn’t do much for the C’s as the lead is now up to 14.
Fourth quarter, 7:50, Nuggets 92-80: J.R. Smith buries a 3-pointer and Doc Rivers needs an immediate timeout to try and salvage something before the Nuggets run and hide.
It’ll be interesting to see if and when Paul Pierce returns. He has been so innefective that you wonder if a combo of Marquis Daniels/Rasheed Wallace/Glen Davis will get the C’s to the promised land while Pierce gets a little rest.
Fourth quarter, 8:37, Nuggets 89-80: If the C’s can keep this one in single digits for when the starters return I give them a chance. But you get the sense that a few consecutive hoops by the Nuggets would take the roof off this place and make it a pretty formidable hole to climb out of.
And as I mentioned before, without anything falling from outside (1-of-13 from 3-point range) it becomes a difficult proposition.
Fourth quarter, 10:12, Nuggets 85-76 : Marquis Daniels with a basket and then a dogging defensive possesion on Carmelo Anthony. It comes on the heels of what became a 12-point deficit, further proof of Daniels’ calming effect when he is on the floor.
End of third quarter, Nuggets 82-73: The Celts climbed all the way up the mountain, turning a 20-point deficit into a tie game, but it’s been all Denver since then.
The Nuggets close the third quarter on a 16-7 run. With the way Boston has struggled from the outside and with Denver’s ability to get to the line, a comeback is difficult, but not out of the realm of possibility.
Let’s see if the Celtics have anything left on this five-game trip.
Third quarter, 1:17, Nuggets 76-68: With a miss from the arc by Rasheed Wallace, the Celtics are now 1-of-11 from 3-point range.
Third quarter, 2:54, Nuggets 72-68: The Nuggets are making a concerted effort to get Carmelo Anthony involved after he had somewhat disappeared for a bit.
Anthony had his way with Paul Pierce in the first half. Now he is being marked by Marquis Daniels, who is a quality defender but also overmatched.
Third quarter, 3:43, Nuggets 70-66: Four straight Denver points after Boston tied it for the first time since it was 4-4.
Third quarter, 5:24, Nuggets 66-63: The C’s can get within two points for the first time since it was 6-4 when Ray Allen goes to the line after the timeout.
Win or lose you have to like the way Boston is playing. It has taken a 20-point lead down to three and is moving the ball very well after such a sluggish start. Remember, the bench got the C’s going in the first half and should be trickling in soon.
Third quarter, 5:57, Nuggets 66-61: Great play by Rajon Rondo, as he knew the Chauncey Billups was behind the play after falling into the Celtics’ bench. We are going back and forth here right now.
Third quarter, 7:43, Nuggets 64-57: If Paul Pierce can get going then Celtics fans would have to feel great, as it looks more and more like Kevin Garnett has that swagger back. He has two emphatic blocks in this one and was on the receiving end of a textbook alley-oop in the first half.
But Pierce just does not have it right now and it’s been a tough trip for him.
Third quarter, 8:58, Nuggets 60-53: We were just given a sampling off all things that make Kevin Garnett great, no matter what his knee is doing to him.
He first buried a mid-range jumper, then intercepted a long pass down court to get a turnover, and finally found Kendrick Perkins with a fine interior pass, all in the course of about a minute.
Third quarter, 11:55, Nuggets 54-47: We’re underway in the second half, 24 big minutes before the Celtics head home.
Halftime, Nuggets 54-47: The Celtics close the half on a 5-0 run and turn the tables a bit in the second quarter, but still have a little bit of an uphill climb.
You gotta love the Celtics trying to get a shooting foul on Marquis Daniels as he is hacked trying to receive a pass with one second left.
Garnett: “He took a 3! He took a 3!”
It was a bit of comic relief in an otherwise physical, intense affair. Boston trimmed a 20-point lead down to seven by slowing things down a bit and tightening up the interior.
Ray Allen leads all scorers with 17 points. Rajon Rondo has eight assists. Carmelo Anthony leads the Nuggets with 14 points and is abusing Paul Pierce, who still looks a bit out of sorts. Pierce has two points on 1-of-6 shooting with two turnovers.
Second quarter, 2:28, Nuggets 50-42: Denver is killing itself at the line. It is now 6-of-16.
Second quarter, 2:51, Nuggets 50-41: The C’s get screwed here as the officials call a technical foul on Nuggets coach George Karl just as Rajon Rondo leads a sure-fire 4-on-2 break, stopping play.
Karl is seemingly upset with a lack of a whistle on a few missed shots by his players. He may have had a beef on one, but not the other.
Meanwhile, Doc Rivers is livid that the Celtics had an opportunity to get within seven or even closer taken away from them. At the very least they will have a free throw and the ball when we resume.
Second quarter, 3:21, Nuggets 50-41: Two things. First, nice to see Chris Andersen get a taste of his own medicine on a block by KG. But second, did anyone see that dunk by Rajon Rondo after the whistle?
It didn’t count by he nearly took off from the circle!
Second quarter, 4:34, Nuggets 48-37: Chris Andersen with his fourth blocked shot of the game and you could see it coming as he sized up Kendrick Perkins for about a three-count before Perk tried to loft one over him.
Second quarter, 5:57, Nuggets 46-35: Glen Davis gets a ton of credit for how hard he works, particularly on the offensive glass.
But how often does he take that board and get anything but a trip to the line out of it? Very rarely, it seems, as he is so easily swallowed up.
It’s happened twice on offensive boards in this one and once when Rajon Rondo found him open underneath. It’s not a knock, just an observation.
Second quarter, 7:34, Nuggets 44-35: The Nuggets’ largest lead has been halved after Ray Allen buries a 3-pointer. Allen now has 13 to lead all scorers.
Second quarter, 8:46, Nuggets 44-30: Two straight jumpers go down for Kenyon Martin and the Nuggets are now shooting 73.1 percent (19-of-26).
Second quarter, 9:43, Nuggets 40-28: Ray Allen continuing his spectacular trip with a nice run here early in the second quarter. He has scored six of the C’s nine points in the second.
Second quarter, 10:34, Nuggets 40-24: A little spunk here from the Celtics early in the second quarter, and they need it. Perhaps the second unit can save them as it did in Sacramento, although there is a big difference between the Kings and the Nuggets.
End of first quarter, Nuggets 37-19: Some numbers to illustrate just how lopsided the first 12 minutes were:
– The Nuggets shot 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the floor.
– Denver had an 11-4 advantage on the boards.
– Chris Andersen has three blocked shots. The Celtics have one.
– Nene Hilario has two steals. Boston has one.
– The Nuggets have three players with at least nine points. The Celtics have none over four.
– The 37 Denver points represent the most scored in one quarter against Boston all season.
First quarter, 1:28, Nuggets 32-16: Too easy. Billups to Nene for a dunk and this is getting a bit frightening. Where is the defense we saw Friday night?
First quarter 2:39, Nuggets 30-16: A poor sequence for Paul Pierce, although he was a bit unfortunate. After his 3-point try just barely rimmed out Pierce took his eyes off Carmelo Anthony, who leaked out ahead of the pack for two.
The Nuggets are scoring at a blistering pace here and it’s been Anthony and Chauncey Billups doing most of the damage. The pair is a combined 8-of-10 from the floor and has 17 points.
Pierce and Rajon Rondo are getting outplayed early.
First quarter, 6:23, Nuggets 17-8: Chris Andersen showing his value early on for the Nuggets. Coming in for Kenyon Martin after Martin picked up two quick fouls, Andersen has two blocks and a basket in which he also picked up a foul on Kendrick Perkins.
Also, he serves to get the team fired up every time. They’re certainly on their feet now as the Nuggets have scored six straight to open it up early.
Denver is among the league leaders in steals and they get up the floor quickly after many of them, a tough combintation for the C’s to contend with. Already two steals and two blocks have opened up some fast break opportunities.
First quarter, 9:29, Nuggets 4-2: Kenyon Martin picks up two fouls already, but he’ll stay in the game for now.
First quarter, 10:35, 2-2: We are underway at the Pepsi Center and it shouldn’t be long before we see the Nuggets get to the line.
Denver leads the league in free throws attempted (31.6) and made (24.6) by a wide margin.
3:37 p.m.: With Cleveland’s loss in Orlando moments ago, the Celtics enter this matinee just four games behind the Cavs in the loss column. Boston and Cleveland play three more times this season, including Thursday at the Garden.
Something to think about.
3:09 p.m.: We are about 35 minutes from the tip at the Pepsi Center and the starting lineups have been posted.
The C’s have their featured five of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins.
Denver starts Chauncey Billups and Arron Afflalo at guard, Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin at forward, and Nene Hilario underneath.
Only Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers have better home records than the Nuggets, who are 23-5 here. But nobody has a better road record in the league than Boston at 20-9.
Look for some scoring in this one. Denver ranks third in points per game and ninth in points allowed per game, and the winning team in the last eight meetings has averaged 114.0 points. Eat your heart out, Alex English.
9:07 a.m.: The Celtics’ western road trip is already a successful one. But it would reach new heights with a win in Denver in the third of three straight nationally televised games for the Green.
The tip is set for 3:30 p.m. and we will track all the action for you right here.
Following back-to-back wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday and Friday, Boston is 3-0 on its annual trip out west following the All-Star game.
A 4-0 mark with a win over the Northwest Division-leading Nuggets would serve notice that the C’s are coming together at the right time. They sure looked it Friday in Portland, limiting the Trail Blazers to their worst offensive showing of the season in a 96-76 rout.
Sunday’s contest also marks the last game in which Boston will be without newly acquired Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry, who will debut with the team Tuesday at home against their old team, the New York Knicks.
Denver has split its last 10 games following an eight-game winning streak. It fizzled down the stretch in a 107-97 loss at Washington on Friday night.
Playing without Kevin Garnett, the C’s posted a 114-76 beating in the Pepsi Center a year ago. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce combined for 48 points and Leon Powe (remember him?) had 16 off the bench.
