This Friday night – in Abu Dhabi – the preseason of the NBA began with a very friendly opposition between the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics. The last two champions provided a fairly entertaining game for the replay, and in the end the gang of… Payton Pritchard (21 points in 24 minutes) won.
After several months without NBA basketball, and several weeks without basketball, it is clear that we are waiting for this Nuggets – Celtics. We are waiting for him, as well as the 12,000 fans present at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. But before the interval, a minute’s silence was required to pay tribute to the much-missed Dikembe Mutombo, who died earlier in the week.
Ahead of today’s NBA Preseason Game in Abu Dhabi, the NBA is holding a moment of silence for NBA Global Ambassador and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo. pic.twitter.com/OtaAWRXjFz
— NBA (@NBA) October 4, 2024
The game will start at 6:12 pm instead of 6 pm, the NBA continues its good behavior. The first minutes of the game were marked by several whistles, a bit of clumsiness, a ball that remained stuck between the hoop and the board, and a sound/image delay on NBA League Pass.
Without a doubt, we are in the first preseason game.
Less than two minutes into the NBA preseason and we have a wedgie. pic.twitter.com/ru3SuPkH1R
— No Dunks (@NoDunksInc) October 4, 2024
However, the meeting quickly turned more serious. We’re still talking about two of the most successful teams in the NBA, so that’s a big deal!
Michael Porter Jr. was in good form, while Russell Westbrook – skilled from long range (!) – made a convincing entry in place of Christian Braun, who started in place of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. On the side of the Celtics, the confusion and loss of the ball at the beginning of the game gave an 8-0 card led by the trio of Jayson Tatum – Jrue Holiday – Derrick White. Jaylen Brown, he put in a big block and sacred tomar!
Jaylen Brown with a block on one end, followed immediately by a monster dunk on the other pic.twitter.com/7saARthQhq
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) October 4, 2024
Conversely, while the Celtics five is considered the best in the NBA (even if it consists of Luke Kornet without Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford) and the depth of the Nuggets raises questions, it is actually the bench unit of the Nuggets to create in difference. Russ West on playmaking, Dario Saric and Vlatko Cancar on finishing, Julian Strawther on defense, and that’s +7 for Denver after one quarter.
In the second quarter, it was the Celtics’ turn to release their bench lineup. This gives us a nice matchup between the second units, where Payton Pritchard – who else? – burned. “Preseason P” scored 14 pawns this season alone with four winning shots on the lot. However, despite their hot streak and the Celtics dominating the rebounding, the Nuggets remained ahead. How? Thanks especially to Nikola Jokic. While Jayson Tatum showed the efficiency of his new shooting mechanics, the Joker had fun with Luke Kornet to keep Denver in front. Aaron Gordon also made his small contribution. 63-56 at the break.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) October 4, 2024
As Marcus Camby, Muggsy Bogues, Kevin Garnett and other NBA greats are honored at halftime, we wonder what the second half will hold. We quickly got the answer. Come on, all the starters on the bench, time for a full duel between the replacements. Long live the preseason!
This is the moment to see a legendary duel (not) between DeAndre Jordan and Neemias Queta, the latter took an elbow to the face almost a few minutes after his entrance. Poor guy. It’s also the opportunity to see Russell Westbrook dunk on Jordan, so it’s 2017. But above all, above all, it gives the green light to Payton Pritchard to continue his little festival. While the Celtics have long been burdened by their lack of skill from distance in this game (20 of… 61 attempts from the parking lot), PP sent two big banderillas burning the room. He was well accompanied by Sam Hauser and Jordan Walsh. Over 80-79 for Denver.
On the other hand, there is someone who is having fun tonight, it is Payton Pritchard.
6/12 on 3-pointers.
Usually the kind of opportunity for a guy like him, just to show that he’s sharp 3 weeks before the start.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) October 4, 2024
Substitute duel or not, it doesn’t matter, at least we have a close game in the fourth quarter. And we took that every day in the preseason!
While the two teams were tied midway through the final quarter, Boston created a gap. In the role of “difference makers”? Jordan Walsh and Drew Peterson, who crashed the best time. JD Davison dropped a huge chase on Strawther before sending Dmytro Skapintsev into the alley-oop. +4 Boston with a minute to play.
Denver is hanging on under the leadership of Zeke Nnaji, and we even thought the Nuggets had the lead… before the headset informed us that the scorer’s table produces a ball. Boston ultimately remained ahead of the score, and ended up winning 107-103 at the end of a never-ending game.
Fantastic piece of end-to-end basketball from JD Davison. Swat + oops! pic.twitter.com/iPbu6BNEjR
— Marc D’Amico (@Marc_DAmico) October 4, 2024