The Boston Celtics misplaced 102-100 to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night time, struggling their first defeat at dwelling this season and first loss since a 131-129 double-overtime defeat in opposition to the New York Knicks on March 5, 2023.
Their 20 straight dwelling wins this season have been the Celtics’ second most of their franchise historical past with no loss. Boston’s greatest regular-season dwelling file is 40-1, which was set within the 1985-86 season.
The Celtics gained 33 straight in Boston from Dec. 17, 1986, by Nov. 18, 1987, which remains to be their longest streak in franchise historical past.
In Boston’s 127-120 extra time victory in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, the membership turned the thirteenth staff in NBA historical past to start out a season 18-0 at dwelling.
Per a number of NBA betting websites, the Celtics stay the front-runners to win this season’s championship. Sportsbooks are nonetheless exhibiting nice odds for the Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks.
The Celtics snapped their 27-game dwelling win streak with a loss on Friday to the Nuggets.
It’s their first loss at dwelling since March 5, 2023 in opposition to the Knicks in double OT. pic.twitter.com/8CMKCGJ1BJ
— ESPN Stats & Data (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 20, 2024
Furthermore, the San Antonio Spurs set the NBA file of 39-0 within the 2015-16 season. The Golden State Warriors in the identical season additionally began 36-0 at dwelling, earlier than the Celtics ended that streak with a win at Oracle Area.
In Friday’s loss, Boston led 61-55 at halftime after outscoring Denver 29-24 within the second quarter. The Celtics led by as many as 12 factors. Nevertheless, the Nuggets went on to outbound them 47-38 and shoot 42-of-81 (51.9%) from the ground.
The Celtics completed simply 38-of-89 (42.7%) capturing from the sphere. Boston fell to 20-1 at dwelling and 32-10 general after Jayson Tatum missed a one-legged fadeaway off the rim that was contested by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Boston Celtics’ 20-game dwelling win streak ends in opposition to Denver Nuggets, falls in need of all-time file
Moreover, Tatum admitted after the loss that he wasn’t positive if Denver would use its last foul to offer, which might have pressured the Celtics, who have been out of timeouts, to inbound the ball.
“I believe I form of rushed it, and that’s on me,” he mentioned. “At the back of my thoughts, I wasn’t positive in the event that they have been going to foul. They’d a foul to offer. However I had extra time than I gave myself, so I ought to have taken some extra time. However, can’t return. One thing I can study from.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla opted to not double-team Nikola Jokic for many of the recreation as properly. It was a pricey mistake. Jokic posted 34 factors, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists in 39 minutes of motion. The 2-time MVP additionally shot 14-of-22 (63.6%) from the ground, 2-of-4 (50%) past the arc, and he hit all 4 free throws.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone was happy with how properly his stars performed in opposition to a Boston protection that entered this matchup ranked third within the league in defensive effectivity.
The very best dwelling begins in NBA historical past stay protected after the Celtics’ streak ends at 20 straight wins.
’16 Spurs – 39-0
’96 Bulls – 37-0
’16 Warriors – 36-0
’96 Magic – 33-0
’47 Bullets – 27-0
’78 Blazers – 26-0 pic.twitter.com/fUtZZEodW1— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 20, 2024
“They performed for themselves, and so they performed for different individuals,” Malone mentioned. “It was high-level basketball from two All-Star gamers.”
Extra importantly, Jokic had devoted his efficiency to the late Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, who handed away Wednesday afternoon on the age of 46 after struggling a coronary heart assault in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Milojevic coached Jokic of their native Serbia.
“As I discussed to our staff after the sport, I couldn’t be extra happy with Nikola for enjoying the way in which he performed with the tragic passing of Deki,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned.
Moreover, this was the primary of two regular-season conferences between the Celtics and Nuggets this season. These groups play once more in Denver on Thursday, March 7.