Boston Celtics shooting CRATERS in Loss To Nuggets, Jayson Tatum Getting Closer
Boston Celtics’ road trip momentum stalls as fatigue, missed opportunities, and cold shooting doom their night against the Denver Nuggets. With Jayson Tatum’s return looming, can the team snap back into contender mode? John Karalis of Celtics On SI dissects the loss, spotlighting issues like the Celtics’ inability to feed the hot hand—despite Derrick White’s second-quarter surge—and Jaylen Brown’s ongoing tussle with officials.
Key analysis covers the impact of travel, shooting woes (12-of-43 from three), live-ball turnovers, and the third-quarter collapse when Boston failed to capitalize on bonus opportunities. Karalis evaluates Neemias Queta’s defensive effort, Boston’s stagnant bench production, and previews Tatum’s imminent return, asking: will his comeback restore the Celtics’ edge before they face the Brooklyn Nets? Don’t miss this essential Celtics breakdown.
00:00 Nuggets Beat Celtics Recap
10:19 Three-Point Shooting Woes
14:32 Fatigue, Turnovers & Rebounding
18:38 Hot Hand & Jaylen Brown
25:35 Missed Opportunities—Bonus Free Throws
28:35 Tatum Injury Update & Return
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28 Comments
I am a Nuggets fan but I have to admit that was an embarrassing game from both teams on offence . It wasent a good advert for the NBA really . Jokic was jacking up 3’s and the Celtics were shooting so poorly . So many turnovers in the game where it didn’t look like an NBA game . Looked like a local pick up game at times 😆
Of the 4 teams that won a championship after not winning 40 before losing 20, two had added an all star player after that record. So…💚☘☘☘
Jb has been horrible since January
A Stinker on the last day of a long west coast road trip in High Altitude conditions is very acceptable. 👍
Worst shooting performance since 2022 and a very predictable loss in Denver on 2nd night of btb. But let’s talk about JT being cleared medically for 5 on 5! 🔜 0️⃣
Tbh honest Jon, everytime we play them, were going to be at an automatic disadvantage due to simple fact Jokic will always be the best player on the floor. the guy had a hurt wrist, didn't looked fully engaged and still goes 30 10 and 10. His presence in the paint is intimidating alone. BAD MATCHUP!
Three road games in the west in four nights with the third game against a rested Denver team. It's a recipe for a loss. In fact, it's a set up. Nothing to see here. Keep it moving.
They missed many open shoots
its hard to get to the FT line when the opponent is being overly physical and the refs arent calling the fouls they should be calling. with that said, tough loss. they're gonna need to bounceback vs. brooklyn to keep 2nd place. 3 takeaways:
1. the celtics should take advantage of Vuc's size if they're playing double big or dont bother at all. double big looked bad granted it was influenced by Vuc not hitting a single thing from 3. his worst game as a celtic. neemi didn't have it too on the boards. both of them are dropping too much on defense. Vuc at the top of the key passing is needed.
2. I'd like to see more cuts from hugo, walsh, baylor and ron with Vuc and neemi finding them. gotta find some offense that isnt a PNR, catch and shoot 3 or an iso when things arent going well. JT cant come back soon enough to give us more options and better spacing. i miss early season walsh where he was more aggressive off the catch.
3. the celtics looked fatigued being on a b2b, 3rd game in 4 nights. they needed a hot shooting night to beat the nuggets and they didnt have it. Joe and the team have to figure out when they dont have it shooting wise then what's the counter so they can put in some buckets regardless of opponent's excessive physicality.
this was a win i badly wanted to keep 40-20 alive. maybe JT surprises with a return vs. the nets. lets go celtics!
Disappointed for sure. The second night(admittedly a back-to-back), where they shot poorly(especially Pritchard again), and with Brown having a rest night in Phoenix, unfortunately, he didn't have the big game necessary to pull it out. Vucevic was absolutely terrible too. Also, with Murray leaving the game early, it was a perfect chance to win it…but alas. On to the next one!
More often shooters who were making shots start missing see Sam Hauser.
It’s fatigue sure but do stop taking them – that’s smart
The Celtics just looked fatigued all game but can we stop pretending that this team is on the level of a nuggets spurs etc ? There like a 2nd round exit at best. Our offense has been shit as of late
I thought shooting didn't matter as long as you got a couple blocks. Derek White's defense was awful, he's terrible offense is leading him to terrible defense he's so worried about getting these precious blocks that he's leaving his man wide open in the corner for threes game after game no one will call it out though because he gets that one block a game. And tonight Cruise my point that shooting matters😊
🍻 ☘️
DEN defense was walking off drives extremely well. The off-ball movement & live ball catch looks just weren’t sustained. Was a ton of dribbling.
Give credit to DEN man D
It's okay as the saying goes you can't win them all 😢💚🍀🍀😎
Exhausted team, short shots, short cuts, short tempers, and a long flight home. For most people, their worst tendencies and habits are more prominent when they're tired. Even the usually energetic bench had nothing to add. Me either, and all I did was sit on my couch and watch these games. Overall, a pretty good road trip.
Scheduled loss.
Love this team for the way they have fought. This road trip was fools gold. No Steph, no Booker, and tonight no Murray and couldn't get it done. Nothing has changed with this team. Ceiling is 2nd round or ECF. Keep developing the younger guys and get Tatum reacclimated this year. He's not going to disrupt anything special. We will need him.
Why does it feel like whenever the Cs play the Nuggets it's always at the end or in the middle of a tough stretch of games.
Best Celtics analyst on youtube. My go to for analysis and reviews after each game. Thanks John.
Shooters fatigue for sure long road trip shooters losing touch it happens. 3-1 can't complain. Will see what happens Friday will the shots fall?? Will they play with energy and intensity??🤔 Need to see much better offense especially Vuc and Pritchard off the bench. These last 2 games both have been playing like trash 🗑️.☘️☘️☘️☘️💪💪😎
What I want to know was did JB really throw that pass to nobody nearer to the end of the game or was that ball stolen and dunked?
Note: Nevermind the highlights confirmed that yes JB through a great pass to the nuggets for a dunk on the cut by vooch that he thought was a pop and yes it did pop the Celtic's bubble of a 40/20.
Just now seeing this, after all the horrid shooting nights we struggled with the last umteen months. Last year we would shoot ourselves out of games instead of attacking the basket. You and others make excuses that the were good open shots…….. they would shot in the high twenty % and would shoot 40 threes. Welcome to the party🥳🥳 Live and die by the three is retarded ☘🏀💪
Tough game for all: the team late game on a b2b on tired legs, John having to stay up extra late, and me missing the episode on my way to work (8am cet/2am et)…
John, I appreciate the effort. I first thought you weren't in the mood after the loss and skipping till morning, then realizing the game barely finished when I looked for scores.
Anyways, time for team to get home. Doesn't sound as if Tom will be right (JT return vs Nets) but lets see.
I just got home, so it's coming all around.
Vucavek it was his first test as a Celtics and he failed Big Time. He is not the answer to the promised land. He is 35 years old and it showed last night. It shows in his legs and energy
These Bigs got a lesson in school from the joker
They are missing the extra 10 to 20 points Garza provides with the offensive rebounds