Boston Celtics (48-13, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (42-20, third in the Western Conference)
Denver; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Boston heads to Denver for a non-conference matchup.
The Nuggets are 24-6 in home games. Denver is seventh in the league allowing just 110.4 points per game while holding opponents to 46.5% shooting.
The Celtics are 19-10 on the road. Boston is the NBA leader with 36.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Jayson Tatum averaging 7.7.
The Nuggets make 49.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 4.5 percentage points higher than the Celtics have allowed to their opponents (44.7%). The Celtics average 10.6 more points per game (121.0) than the Nuggets give up to opponents (110.4).
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Nuggets won 102-100 in the last matchup on Jan. 20.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nikola Jokic is averaging 25.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.2 assists for the Nuggets. Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 18.4 points over the last 10 games.
Jaylen Brown is scoring 22.4 points per game and averaging 5.4 rebounds for the Celtics. Tatum is averaging 3.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 6-4, averaging 112.6 points, 46.0 rebounds, 30.1 assists, 8.2 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.8 points per game.
Celtics: 9-1, averaging 124.1 points, 46.0 rebounds, 28.2 assists, 6.7 steals and 6.6 blocks per game while shooting 52.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.7 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Vlatko Cancar: out (knee).
Celtics: Neemias Queta: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
