By defeating the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, the Denver Nuggets increased their record against the best basketball club in the league to 2-0. Despite having almost secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Boston has yet to secure a victory over the reigning champions this year. For Denver, the game was mostly about adding another victory to their record, but many see this showdown as an NBA Finals preview.
Nikola Jokic outplayed Jayson Tatum in this game, and while Tatum’s MVP case was not nearly as strong as Jokic’s entering this game, he certainly did not strengthen his case with this showing. Finishing with just 15 points on 5/13 shooting, Tatum struggled in this one, but told to reporters after the game that he wasn’t caught up in the individual battle with Jokic.
Tatum remarked, “I’m not trying to make it about myself or necessarily an individual matchup.” That isn’t how our team is organized. We discuss how to appreciate one another’s personal space and how to follow the game’s logic. Since it’s a national TV event, it’s not my place to try to take over and make it about me. If I have to stand in the corner or occasionally act as a facilitator because other guys are doing well, then so be it.
While Tatum did had eight assists, Boston was defeated 115-109 by the reigning champions because of his subpar shooting.
“I’m not trying to make it about myself or necessarily and individual matchup,” Tatum said. “That’s not the way our team is set up… We talk about respecting each other’s space and understanding the flow of the game. It’s not upon me to hijack the game and try make it about me and it’s a national TV game. Other guys had it going, so if I have to be in the corner, if I have to be a facilitator at times, so be it.”
Tatum did have 8 assists, but his poor shooting was too much for Boston to overcome, as they fell to the defending champions 115-109.
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