The Boston Celtics defeated the Denver Nuggets 130-104 in their second preseason game against each other at the 2024 NBA Abu Dhabi Games. The Celtics won both contests, leading to Fadeaway World asking both head coaches how much stock they put in results like this in preseason. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone wasn't upset at the result but couldn't hide his disappointment regarding the team's effort.
"I don't get caught up in the losses in preseason. I get caught up in, 'Are we getting better?' That's the most disappointing thing about tonight. It wasn't about the missed shots, it was about the turnovers and transition defense breakdowns that we had."
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had a similar answer, saying he values what he sees the players and units do as a whole rather than being caught up in a win or a loss.
"You put some stock in it. I don't look at the score, I look at the process of what we're doing. For example, we were up 7 at halftime but we were losing the shot margin and we gave them 18 more free throws than we had, so it's the process that goes into that. Preseason is an opportunity to commit to the fundamentals and compete, which I think we've done both of those, and then iron out the things we know lead to winning or losing."
Both coaches gave mature answers which proves why they're both championship-winning head coaches. The result is important in the regular season but preseason is when coaches allow their players to see who will make it beyond the training camp roster.
The Nuggets were led by a monster Nikola Jokic performance, putting up 20 points and seven rebounds in the loss in just 18:30 minutes. The Celtics performed well by committee but were led by Jaylen Brown's 21 points, while Jayson Tatum had 17 points.
Michael Malone Was Not Happy With The Nuggets
The result of both games in Abu Dhabi is an L for the Nuggets, with the team's bench in particular being thoroughly outmatched by Boston's. The team was playing short-handed due to the absences of Russell Westbrook, Michael Porter Jr., DeAndre Jordan, and Aaron Gordon.
Coach Malone of the Nuggets ripped into his team for the performance in the second game, using an iconic Albert Einstein quote to hammer his point across.
"If we keep doing the same things and expecting different results, that's the definition of insanity. We have to do a better job of understanding what we're trying to do. Adhere to the game plan, have discipline within the game plan, and find guys capable of doing that.
"Boston is a very good team, they played some of their guys into the third quarter. We did not. That third quarter, 42-16, that was tough for us."
The Nuggets are easily one of the title favorites headed into the season but the Celtics comprehensively outplayed them in Game 2 and overcame a double-digit lead to win the first game. This is a result of the team's heart, determination, and fighting spirit.
The Nuggets fell victim to a message from the reigning champions, so they'll hope that Jokic's sensational preseason form continues into the season, as the version of Jokic we've seen effortlessly dominated the outing on both nights.
He was clearly the best player on the court, but if youngsters like Julian Strawther, Christian Braun, Hunter Tyson, and more can't step up, the Nuggets might struggle to even get through the 2025 Playoffs.
