SB Nation Boston - Celtics Vs. Nuggets: Boston Drops Contest To Denver On Saturday Nighthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2012-03-17T23:27:38-04:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26436402012-03-17T23:27:38-04:002012-03-17T23:27:38-04:00Celtics Vs. Nuggets Final Score Update: Boston's Strong 4th Quarter Not Enough Against Denver
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<p>A valiant fourth quarter effort came up short for the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Celtics</a> on Saturday night, as they fell 98-91 to the <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Denver Nuggets</a> in the fifth leg of their eight game road swing.</p>
<p>The Celtics climbed within three points late in the fourth quarter, but ultimately couldn't overcome the 15 point hole they dug themselves into in the first half. </p>
<p><span>Rajon Rondo</span> led the way for the Celtics, finishing with 12 points and 16 assists. <span>Paul Pierce</span> and <span>Kevin Garnett</span> each chipped in 22 points, but Pierce fouled out early in the fourth quarter. His absence was felt down the stretch, as the Celtics failed on opportunities to narrow the lead to a single point in the game's closing minutes. </p>
<p>The Nuggets got a career night from rookie forward <span>Kenneth Faried</span>, who finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds. He relentlessly controlled the glass, and the Nuggets overwhelmed the Celtics in the rebounding department, grabbing 46 to Boston's 27. Rebounding has haunted the Celtics throughout the season, and they've been outrebounded by 120 in 10 March games. </p>
<p>The Celtics will continue their road trip on Monday at Atlanta, when they'll take on one of the Eastern Conference teams within striking distance in the standings. The Hawks (25-19), currently stand two and a half games ahead of the Celtics. </p>
<p>Boston also fell short on an opportunity to narrow the gap between themselves and Philadelphia - the leaders in the Atlantic Division - to just one half of a game. They remain a game and half back now, and the two teams will square off in Philadelphia on Friday night.</p>
<p><i><b>For more Celtics and Nuggets coverage, visit our blogs, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/" target="_blank">CelticsBlog</a> and <a href="http://www.denverstiffs.com/" target="_blank">Denver Stiffs</a>.</b></i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2012/3/17/2881424/celtics-nuggets-final-score-nba-rajon-rondoField Yates2012-03-17T22:10:50-04:002012-03-17T22:10:50-04:00Celtics Vs. Nuggets Halftime Score: Denver In Command At Half
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<p>A night after being waxed by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Sacramento Kings</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> find themselves down again against a Western Conference opponent on Saturday night, trailing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a> 55-42 at halftime. </p>
<p><span>Rajon Rondo</span> has four points and 10 assists already for Boston, but the Celtics have had no answer for Denver on the glass, being outrebounded 28-12 through 24 minutes. Rebounding has plagued Boston throughout the season, and the team has been hampered by the loss of <span>Chris Wilcox</span>, who the team recently discoverd would need season-ending heart surgery.</p>
<p><span>Danilo Gallinari</span>, the centerpiece of the package the Nuggets received for <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> last season, has paced his team with 15 first half points. <span>Kenneth Faried</span>, who the Nuggets plucked in the first round of last year's draft, has already collected 11 rebounds. </p>
<p>Tonight marks the fifth game of the Celtics current eight game road trip.</p>
<p><i><b>For more Celtics and Nuggets coverage, visit our blogs, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/" target="_blank">CelticsBlog</a> and <a href="http://www.denverstiffs.com/" target="_blank">Denver Stiffs</a>.</b></i> <i><b><br></b></i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2012/3/17/2881310/celtics-nuggets-nba-halftime-score-rajon-rondoField Yates2012-03-17T20:44:10-04:002012-03-17T20:44:10-04:00Celtics Vs. Nuggets: JaVale McGee Out For Nuggets
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<p>Recently-acquired center <span>JaVale McGee</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/SeanGrandePBP/status/181176565877583873">is unavailable for the Denver Nuggets tonight</a>, as Nene - who McGee was acquired from Washington for - has yet to complete his physical with his new team. </p>
<p>The two were part of a three-team trade that also featured <span>Nick Young</span> being shipped from Washington to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a>. </p>
<p>McGee, who is in his fourth year in the NBA, is averaging 11.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game this season. He struggled in Washington with maturity issues, but the trade that sent him to Denver was one that few anticipated. In shipping off Nene, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a> were able to free up the necessary cap space to offer Winston Chandler - a restricted free agent who played in China during the lockout - a long term contract. </p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> will once again start <span>Kevin Garnett</span> at center, while <span>Timofey Mozgov</span> will get the nod for Denver. </p>
<p><i><b>For more Celtics and Nuggets coverage, visit our blogs, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.celticsblog.com/">CelticsBlog</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Stiffs</a>.</b></i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2012/3/17/2881169/celtics-nuggets-nba-javale-mcgee-out-neneField Yates2012-03-17T09:00:27-04:002012-03-17T09:00:27-04:00Celtics Vs. Nuggets: Boston Looks To Rebound In Mile High City
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<p>Friday's blowout loss to the Kings now behind them, the Boston Celtics (23-20) look to get back to their winning ways against the Denver Nuggets (24-20) at 9:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO (CSN/WEEI).</p> <p>Friday was a day to forget for the Boston Celtics. Clearly uninterested in the game, the Celtics let the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Sacramento Kings</a> -- a team they had defeated eight straight times coming into the game -- walk all over them and post a 120-95 victory, thanks in part to a 41-point third quarter. Boston looks to rebound against the Denver Nuggets at 9 p.m. EDT on Saturday night (TV/Radio: CSNNE/WEEI).</p>
<p>Boston is likely in for a tough night, as the Nuggets lead the NBA in scoring (they average 103.8 points per game) and have the most efficient passing game in the league, averaging an NBA-best 23.5 APG). The good news is that, unlike the Celtics, the Nuggets are a terrible defensive team. Denver allows 101.5 points per game, which ranks 28th in the league.</p>
<p>Making matters worse, the Celtics diagnosed leading scorer <span>Paul Pierce</span> with a "mild right ankle sprain" late in Friday's loss. Pierce said he tweaked it when he stepped on <span>Marcus Thornton's</span> foot, adding that he hopes it doesn't swell up. <span>Doc Rivers</span>, the Celtics coach, also added that he hopes the injury isn't serious. Celtics fans will certainly agree.</p>
<p>The last thing the Celtics need are injuries. Already down <span>Jeff Green</span>, Jermaine O'Neal and <span>Chris Wilcox</span> this year, Rivers has been trying t pick up the pieces all season long. Boston's injuries have resulted in <span>Kevin Garnett</span> being moved to center and inserting <span>Brandon Bass</span> into the starting lineup, a move that has worked out pretty well so far.</p>
<p>But if Pierce is injured, Rivers will have to do more reorganizing. If he can't go on Saturday, <span>Mickael Pietrus</span> (nine points off the bench in Celtics' loss to Kings) will likely get the start, which isn't all that bad. Pietrus can provide a spark with his timely threes and is a pretty good defender, but he is a ver streaky shooter. </p>
<p>Boston had won seven of nine games entering Friday, with its only two losses coming to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a>. Boston is now 2-2 on their current eight-game West coast road trip, but still has a change to salvage the trip in Denver on Saturday, Atlanta on Monday, Milwaukee next Thursday and Philadelphia the day after that.</p>
<p>Denver, meanwhile, has won six of nine games since the All-Star break, but it has dropped three of its last five. <span>Kevin Durant</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> handed the Nuggets their last loss, 103-90, on Thursday. <span>Andre Miller</span> scored 17 and <span>Danilo Gallinari</span> had 15 points to lead the Nuggets, who were held to 43.6 percent shooting in the defeat.</p>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> <br><span>@ <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><span>Saturday, Mar 17, 2012, 9:00 PM EDT</span><br> The Pepsi Center</p>
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<p><i>For more Celtics and Nuggets coverage, visit our blogs, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com" target="_blank">CelticsBlog</a> and <a href="http://www.denverstiffs.com/" target="_blank">Denver Stiffs</a>.</i></p>
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