Maybe he was just showing respect, but the best player in the NBA declared that the Boston Celtics are still the top team in the NBA.
Shortly after achieving another triple-double in the Denver Nuggets’ 115-109 win over the Celtics on Thursday, March 7, Nikola Jokic expressed that Boston remains the best team in the NBA based on their record. Jokic elaborated on the reasons behind his belief.
Nikola Jokic Speaks Highly of the Boston Celtics
The Nuggets swept the season series against the Celtics, with Jokic contributing 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in the victory. Denver improved to 43-20 and is currently one game behind in the Western Conference. This loss marked the second consecutive defeat for the Celtics, who still hold the best record in the NBA. at 48-14.
The win marked the second consecutive victory for the defending champion Nuggets over the Celtics. Earlier in the season, Denver became the first team to defeat the Celtics at TD Garden, winning 102-100. Boston had begun the season with an impressive 20 straight wins at home.
Despite defeating the Celtics twice this year, Jokic still declared them the top team in the league.
“They are a really good team,” Jokic stated after the game. “They have an answer for everything, in terms of matchups, defense, and offense.
“They are a well-constructed team and they’re currently performing really well. That's why they're regarded as the best team in the NBA right now. It’s extremely challenging to play against them. They have a long, tall lineup. They excel in defense and possess smart players. It's an exceptional team.”
The Celtics Couldn't Contain Jokic
Jokic posed a significant challenge for the Celtics, but this is not surprising because he has been a problem for the entire NBA in the last few seasons. He is the top contender for MVP this year, his third in the last four seasons. In the first Celtics/Nuggets encounter this season, Jokic finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.
On Thursday, he lived up to expectations.
“He’s simply an exceptional basketball player,” Porzingis commented on Jokic. “I actually learned a few things from him today. He's incredibly smart and crafty. There are numerous things that he does on the court that are not immediately apparent but contribute to his team's victory. It's remarkable.
“Whenever you provide just a bit of help, he will find (Aaron) Gordon and all these guys. It speaks volumes about his value to the team and what he does for them. Extremely difficult to stop.”
The Celtics/Nuggets game was as anticipated. Many fans see it as a preview of the 2024 NBA Finals. The Celtics fought hard throughout despite subpar performance from Jayson Tatum.
Tatum ended with 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting. He missed an open 3-pointer from the corner with 45 seconds remaining that would have given Boston a one-point lead. The Celtics also struggled from the free-throw line, making 16 out of 25 attempts. Jaylen Brown, who led the Celtics with 41 points, missed half of his 14 free-throw attempts.
Boston aims to end its two-game losing streak on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns.
