Game Preview: Nuggets at Celtics
By Mathew Huff
The Denver Nuggets will take on the first place team in the Eastern Conference right now, the Boston Celtics.
After a big win over the Detroit Pistons, the Nuggets will have one of their toughest tests of the season on the back end of a back to back.
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They will travel to Boston to battle Kyrie Irving and his young and growing Celtics. Anyone who has been remotely following the NBA this year knows how hot the Celtics are and their first place ranking in the East is proof of this.
Even without Gordan Hayward, they simply keep finding ways to win.
Jamal Murray will have a tough time capitalizing on his 28 point game in Detroit since he will be guarding debatebly the best point guard in the East, Kyrie Irving. The Nuggets cannot be afraid to send help when he penetrates the paint to give Murray a hand.
Also, Al Horford just might be the X factor for Boston. No Millsap and no Jokic to cover a big man like Al Horford who can easily stretch the floor spells trouble for Denver. Hopefully, Trey Lyles is up to the challenge and continues the personal hot streak he is currently on in this road trip.
The one player who will be key for the Nuggets believe it or not will be Wilson Chandler. Without Hayward, the Celtics are very young on the perimeter. As a result, Chandler has to be willing to be an alpha dog in this match up. If not, Denver will have a hard time keeping up with the defensive intensity the Celtics play with night in and night out.
This game one paper should go to Boston with home court advantage and having two of their best three players still.
Next: Grades from win at Detroit
However, in this league, as Celtics legend Kevin Garnett once so eloquently yelled to the rafter, anything is possible.