Boston Celtics at Denver Nuggets
· NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024Celtics beat the Nuggets 107-103 in the NBA's preseason opener at Abu Dhabi
The Celtics and Nuggets will finish their two-game set in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Denver sat its starters in the second half and Boston sat four of its five starters after halftime, with Luke Kornet the exception. The teams combined to use 36 players — 18 apiece.
Payton Pritchard had a game-high 21 points for Boston, which was 20 of 61 from 3-point range. The Celtics' trio of Olympic gold medalists from this summer's Paris Games — Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White — combined to score 25 points and Jaylen Brown had eight for Boston.
Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scored 14 for Denver. Russell Westbrook had 12 in his first outing with the Nuggets, while Michael Porter Jr. scored 12 and Jamal Murray — who was in street clothes on the bench by the end of the game — had three points in 15 minutes.
The NBA signed a deal with tourism officials in Abu Dhabi in 2021 to send teams there for preseason trips; the series started with Milwaukee and Atlanta in 2022, and Dallas and Minnesota went last year.
USA Basketball has played in Abu Dhabi in each of the last two summers as well as part of its tuneups for the 2023 Basketball World Cup in the Philippines and the Paris Games.
Regular Season Series
BOS wins series 2-0
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 107 - 103 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 107 - 103 |
| 4th 1.1 |  |
Gabe McGlothan bad pass (Ron Harper Jr. steals) | 107 - 103 |
| 4th 2.1 |  |
JD Davison makes free throw 2 of 2 | 107 - 103 |
| 4th 2.1 | |
Ron Harper Jr. enters the game for Dmytro Skapintsev | 106 - 103 |
Statistics
 BOS |
 DEN |
|
|---|---|---|
| 37-98 | FG | 37-86 |
| 38 | Field Goal % | 43 |
| 20-61 | 3PT | 12-32 |
| 33 | Three Point % | 38 |
| 13-17 | FT | 17-26 |
| 76 | Free Throw % | 65 |
| 44 | Rebounds | 49 |
| 17 | Offensive Rebounds | 12 |
| 27 | Defensive Rebounds | 37 |
| 29 | Assists | 29 |
| 13 | Steals | 10 |
| 8 | Blocks | 2 |
| 17 | Turnovers | 23 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 18 | Total Turnovers | 24 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 24 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 27 |
| 12 | Fast Break Points | 11 |
| 30 | Points in Paint | 50 |
| 24 | Fouls | 24 |
| 7 | Largest Lead | 12 |
Denver Nuggets Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Spencer Jones, F | Out | Feb 8 |
| Peyton Watson, G | Out | Feb 6 |
| Aaron Gordon, F | Out | Jan 29 |
| Tamar Bates, G | Out | Dec 22 |
Boston Celtics Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Neemias Queta, C | Day-To-Day | Feb 10 |
| Sam Hauser, F | Day-To-Day | Feb 10 |
| Jayson Tatum, F | Out | Feb 9 |
| John Tonje, F | Day-To-Day | Feb 8 |
Game Information
Location: Abu Dhabi,
Attendance: 12,002 · Capacity:
2025-26 Atlantic Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York |
34 | 19 | .642 | - | W1 |
 Boston |
34 | 19 | .642 | - | L1 |
 Toronto |
32 | 22 | .593 | 2.5 | W2 |
 Philadelphia |
30 | 23 | .566 | 4 | L1 |
 Brooklyn |
15 | 37 | .288 | 18.5 | W2 |
2025-26 Northwest Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Oklahoma City |
41 | 13 | .759 | - | W1 |
 Denver |
34 | 20 | .630 | 7 | L1 |
 Minnesota |
33 | 22 | .600 | 8.5 | W1 |
 Portland |
26 | 28 | .481 | 15 | W3 |
 Utah |
17 | 37 | .315 | 24 | W1 |
NBA News
Lakers rule out LeBron James (foot), ending All-NBA streak
The Lakers will be without LeBron James (foot), Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (calf) for Tuesday's game against the Spurs. The missed game rules James out for postseason awards, ending his 21-season, All-NBA streak.
Bobby Marks: Jazz tanking is 'messing around with the integrity of the NBA'
The "NBA Today" crew discusses how the league should address the NBA's tanking issue.
Tatum practices but says it doesn't mean return imminent
Jayson Tatum participated in his first scrimmage with the Celtics' G League affiliate but cautioned that this latest step doesn't mean his return is imminent.
Joakim Noah: Wemby's ceiling is unlimited
Joakim Noah joins "SportsCenter" and gives his thoughts on Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James.
How to watch Basketball Africa League 'Origin' docuseries
"Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League" explores the beginnings of the pro African league. Here's how to watch the series on the ESPN App.